SP Sprint - Wednesday 11 November 2023 by Sporting Post

Wednesday 08 November 2023

FRANKEL – FLYING! 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 1

CONTENTS

NORTH & SOUTH - SUMMER HEATS UP! 11 Laird Has A Serious Summer Star Atticus Finch gutsy in Victory Moon

26 Gqeberha Jock Takes Chance With Both Hands Meet Yuzae Ramzan and find out how

40 Bruss On The Buss

A look at the search for greatness

48 SA Link To Breeders’ Cup Winner

Cheekily named BC Sprint winner caught the eye

78 Cape Migration ’23 Style

Cohen & Bailey make the move

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On the cover

Champion Frankel has just had his service fee increased to £350 000 for 2024. Candiese Lenferna took this week’s unusual cover image of the superstar. Read more on page 110.

Issue: 49/2023

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FAREWELL TO A CHAMPION This issue is dedicated to the memory of Cody Dorman, who, after having witnessed his equine hero Cody’s Wish bow out in style when bravely defending his Dirt Mile title at Santa Anita, died after a medical event while travelling home from California to his family home in Kentucky. Cody was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome – a rare genetic condition that meant he could not speak and was wheelchair-bound. He had been a key part of the Cody’s Wish journey since Bill Mott’s five-year-old was a foal. Cody passed away at 17. Our sympathies go out to Kelly and Leslie Dorman, and his little sister, Kylie. We’ll remember him as the little guy who taught many of us how to live.

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Sean Tarry – saddles SA Horse Of The Year Princess Calla and the undefeated 3yo Mrs Geriatrix | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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TARRY BIG GUNS STEP OUT IN CAPE Sean Tarry made a massive early impact when Tail Of The Comet impressed with an eyecatching victory at the country course last month that had Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas written all over it. The Randjesfontein master saddles another two of his Cape Summer big guns on a bumper Hollywoodbets Durbanville programme on Saturday. Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durbanville card boasts nine well patronized races, headlined by three features, including the topliner Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, where Tarry’s unbeaten in six starts Equus winner Mrs Geriatrix has her maiden start in the Cape. Speaking to the Sporting Post on Wednesday, the former multiple national champion trainer said that Mrs Geriatrix and his reigning SA Horse Of The Year Princess Calla, who runs in a Cape A Stakes earlier in the day, had been down in the Cape about a month. Princess Calla has not seen action in the 14 weeks since beating See It Again in the HKJC Gr1 Champions Cup up in KZN at the end of last season. Mrs Geriatrix won her only start as a 3yo when winning a hard fought tussle with White Pearl in the BSA Sales Cup on 7 October. This will be her first race around a left-handed turn,

“I am happy with both of my runners. Mrs Geriatrix is close to match fitness and this will bring her to her peak for the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas next month. Princess Calla is just starting out and she’s done enough work but she is quite a bit overweight still. She will need it but that doesn’t mean she can’t win,” he said. When asked about the implications of contesting this meeting, which was originally carded for Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, Tarry said that it ‘was not ideal’. “That said, we are all in the same boat and there are exciting things happening at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. I look forward to catching up on some grass gallops at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth when it’s ready.” Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durbanville racemeeting starts at 12h30. 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 7

Princess Calla won the Cartier Gr2 Sceptre Stakes in January this year – her last win in the Cape | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Mrs Geriatrix beats White Pearl to win the BSA Sales Cup (fillies) in early October | Credit: JC Photos

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Empress Club strides clear to win the 1993 Gr1 J&B Met | Credit: Supplied

A COUNTRY START Princess Calla and Mrs Geriatrix are not alone. Big season contenders have commenced their programmes at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in the past with great success! Take the outstanding Empress Club. The daughter of Farnesio started the season with what was generally regarded as a warm-up in the Southeaster Sprint at the country course on 15 December 1992. She met a choice selection of seasoned sprinters over 1000m. The magnitude of her task was reflected in her starting price, with the bookmakers freely offering 4/1 about the top weight. Vying for favouritism were the previous season’s top sprint filly Marie Galante (16/10) and Taban, who would be given title of Sprinter of the Year at the end of that season. Ridden by Anton Marcus, Empress Club had been set to give 3 kilos to the filly, and half a kilo more to Taban. Marie Galante was in front

from the break, and came into the straight with Taban at her quarters. Empress Club raced some 3 lengths back in third, moving smoothly, then drew level with the champion sprinters a furlong out to win going away by a length and a half. For good measure, Empress Club also broke the (hand-timed) course record to show that this win was no fluke. She was to go on from there and beat Flaming Rock in both the Gr1 Queen’s Plate and the Gr1 J&B Met, before heading North to win the Gr1 First National Bank 1600 at Turffontein in early March. That would be the final win of an illustrious career. The ‘Galloping Goldmine’ started twenty times over three seasons and registered 15 wins (9 of which were Gr1’s) with 2 places and prize money of R3 151 975 She died at Gainesway Farm in December 2004.

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Calvin Habib keeps the power-galloper Atticus Finch going to win a cracker and book his Betway Summer Cup berth Credit: JC Photos

ATTICUS LAYS DOWN THE LAW After taking some flak just seven days earlier at the same venue, jockey Calvin Habib silenced his detractors in the best way possible with a well-taken Varsfontein Stud-bred feature double at Turffontein on Saturday.

and well-backed Atticus Finch’ berth in the Betway Summer Cup in three weeks time – both rides being brave efforts from the front.

Habib was the man in the irons when Sandringham Summit was narrowly beaten by the top-class Main Defender in the Betway Graham Beck Stakes last Saturday.

A revelation since his gelding, and now a winner four of his five subsequent outings, Atticus Finch scored his first win over 1800m as he went all the way to win the R400 000 Betway Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.

But he bounced back with a vengeance winning the Listed National Colour Stakes on Golden Sickle, and then booked the improved

Atticus Finch (1-1) kicked on again to hold off the late finishing Electric Gold (8-1) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 111,36 secs. 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 11

In a blanket finish, Billy Bowlegs (16-1) stayed on for third, just ahead of Litigation (11-2), who looked to be caught tight between runners late in the race. Twelve of the thirteen starters are Betway Summer Cup entries and this was a likely final run before the big one on 25 November. An elated Calvin Habib confirmed that they had initiated ‘the plan’ some six months ago and now have one more chapter to complete. “I saw nobody wanted to lead. I took him to the front. He has a big heart and changed legs late as he really didn’t want to get beat,” added Habib. Trainer Alec Laird was clearly pleased with the result. “To win this is pretty good. I am very pleased to have won the Victory Moon again. And Atticus

Finch gets better looking every time he wins!” said the veteran conditioner. A R150 000 National Yearling Sale buy, the winner was a second feature success on the afternoon for the high-riding Varsfontein Stud. A son of South Africa’s current national logleading sire Master Of My Fate (Jet Master), Atticus Finch is out of the Caesour mare Alexia. Now a winner of 5 races with 3 places from 9 starts, the 4yo took his stakes to R565 125 for thrilled owners Lance Clark, Gary Basel, Gary Cornwall & Phil Gregory, who celebrated their maiden Gr3 win together. Master Of My Fate has eight lots at the 2023 November Two Year Old Sale, including a threeparts brother (Lot 16) to dual Gr1 Summer Cup winner Master Sabina, and a colt (Lot 109) out of Gr1 Golden Slipper winner For The Lads.

ATTICUS LAYS DOWN THE LAW The gelding is named after Atticus Finch, a fictional character in Harper Lee’s PulitzerPrize-winning novel of 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus is a lawyer and resident of the fictional Maycomb County, Alabama. Lee based the character on her own father, Amasa Coleman Lee, an Alabama lawyer, who, like Atticus, represented black defendants in a highly publicized criminal trial.

Gregory Peck played Atticus Finch

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Book magazine’s list of The 100 Best Characters in Fiction Since 1900 names Finch as the seventh best fictional character of 20thcentury literature. In 2003, the American Film Institute voted Atticus Finch, as portrayed in an Academy Award-winning performance by Gregory Peck in the 1962 film adaptation, as the greatest hero of all American cinema.

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Jason Gates – forgettable weekend and big bills to pay | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

GATES FINES: JUSTIFIED - OR PLAIN RIDICULOUS? Jason Gates felt the full brunt of the National Horseracing Authority’s crop excess penalties at Turffontein on Saturday when incurring R24 000 in fines and a two week suspension for a total of four cracks over the limit. The news has evoked a storm of reaction, suggesting that the penalties are outrageous in relation to the offence and the young man’s income. Gates’ woes commenced in the fifth race when he was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop) in that as the rider of Afraad

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he misused his crop by striking the gelding more than twelve times (14), which was not deemed to be warranted when considering the circumstances of the race. Gates signed an Admission of Guilt and a fine of R8000 was imposed. An hour later, Gates rode a cracker on Tony Peter-trained Electric Gold, who finished second behind Atticus Finch in the Betway Victory Moon Stakes. But his efforts were again a breach of the rules and he was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the

use of the crop) in that he was said to have misused his crop by striking the gelding more than twelve times (14) which was not warranted when considering the circumstances of the race. Gates again signed an Admission of Guilt and this time he received a fine of R16000 and a fourteen (14) day suspension was imposed. Suspension dates: 11 November 2023 to 24 November 2023.

When assessing this penalty, the Board reportedly took into consideration the status of the race, the number of times the crop was used (14), the number of contraventions of Rule 58.10.2 (M) at this racemeeting (2) and the finishing position of Electric Gold. Ed – on Sunday at Fairview, Gates’ ride on Gallic Tribe in the Jonsson Workwear Algoa Cup was under the spotlight and his use of the crop is the subject of an inquiry.

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MUCHO v

IMPRESSIVE! Yuzae Ramzan kicks clear on Mucho Dinero | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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A shrewd move to optimize the benefits of the bottom weight allocated to the progressive 4yo staying prospect Mucho Dinero at the son of Twice Over’s first foray beyond 2000m produced a happy outcome for Justin Snaith and his connections at a sunny Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday. v

While the enigmatic One Way Traffic was the most fancied of the Snaith trio in the R200 000 Listed Woolavington Stakes topliner, a scramble and concerted effort at acceptance time to find a jockey who could do the 50kgs on Mucho Dinero was to pay dividends for the industrious team. Widely regarded as fierce competitors on an average day, and clearly more fired up since Cape Town has become a welcoming home-

from-home for top trainers like Gareth van Zyl and Adam Azzie, the Snaiths securing of lowkey Gqeberha resident Yuzae Ramzan was to prove a masterstroke. Justin Snaith told how he had originally tried to engage the ‘50kg go-to man’ Joshwin Solomons, who he found was already riding Ennion’s Love Is A Rose. “I called all over, including trying Martin Ball at the SA Jockey Academy in KZN. Eventually I thought of trainer Gavin Smith in Gqeberha. He suggested Yuzae Ramzan as a hardworking and talented jockey. I rang owner Nic Jonsson. He said let’s give him a chance. The rest is history,” added the SA champion trainer. With last year’s top two Baratheon and Salvator Mundi in the line-up, the 2400m contest looked

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tricky, but One Way Ticket had to be the right horse on form and on the weight turnover with Senso Unico. Richard Fourie took Baratheon out to lead at a sedate gallop, until Grant van Niekerk saw red around the mile marker and took One Way Ticket around to lead, and then slowed things down. This was to initiate a game of musical chairs between the two leaders, as Ramzan bided his time near the back of the bunch on Mucho Dinero. Baratheon regained the lead turning for home and was galloping relentlessly into the final 300m. But under a slightly awkward looking righthanded ride, Ramzan had Mucho Dinero (9-2) in full flight up the outside, and in the run to the wire the thrilled Eastern Caper had time to affectionately smack his mount down the shoulder as he drew away to a 4,25 length win in a time of 153,53 secs.

Defending champion Baratheon (28-10) was not disgraced in second, with One Way Traffic a nostril away in third. The games playing had not worked in their favour, but certainly worked for Mucho Dinero. A R1,4 million BSA National Yearling Sale purchase, Mucho Dinero was registering his maiden stakes win here at his first try beyond 2400m. Now a winner of 5 races with a place from 12 starts, Mucho Dinero has earned R432 063 in stakes. Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the winner is a son of Twice Over (Observatory) out of the prolific stakes-winner producing four-time winning Casey Tibbs mare, Cash Register. A full-sister to Equus Champion and Gr1 Durban July winner Big City Life, Cash Register has produced no fewer than five stakes winners.

Cape Racing’s Justin Vermaak presents Yuzae’s trophy | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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Big City Life’s sister Cash Register – class racer and a top notch broodmare

THE TILLS KEEP JINGLING! When Mucho Dinero romped to a four and a quarter length win in Saturday’s Listed Woolavington Stakes, he became the fifth stakes winner for his wonderful dam Cash Register.

A full-sister to ill-fated Equus Champion, and Gr1 Vodacom Durban July winner Big City Life, as well as to Bretton Woods, the dam of Equus Champion and recent Gr2 Alllied SteelrodeOnamission Charity Mile runner up Cousin Casey, Cash Register has proved even more successful in the paddocks than she was at stud. Remarkably, Cash Register’s first five runners are all stakes winners and Mucho Dinero 22 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

could well add further to his dam’s wonderful record in the coming season.

A daughter of Casey Tibbs, and thus a granddaughter of Sadler’s Wells, Cash Register won four races during her career, with her career highlights being victories in both the Listed Ladies Mile and Gr3 Final Fling Stakes of 2012. The 2012 Final Fling Stakes produced a number of subsequently successful broodmares, including Mystery Dame (dam of champion Lady In Black) and Respectable Lady (dam of Gr1 winning sprinter Bold Respect).

Retired to stud in 2013, Cash Register made an immediate impact with her first foal, Speedpoint (by Var), capturing the Listed Southeaster Sprint and finishing runner up in the Gr2 Diadem Stakes and third in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint. Her following foal, Snapscan (by Oratorio) won both the Gr2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers and Gr3 Victress Stakes, while Speedpoint’s full-sister Point Of Sale captured the Listed Ibhayi Stakes. Cash Register’s fourth foal, Chat Ching (a Duke Of Marmalade filly born in 2017), captured the 2022 Listed Lady’s Bracelet, with the classy filly having previously finished third, to subsequent Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom, in the 2020 Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas.

Mucho Dinero, a gelding by Twice Over, took his earnings to over R430 000 when he became Cash Register’s fifth individual stakes winner on Saturday. Sadly, Cash Register is now deceased, but Drakenstein do have an unraced three-yearold son of the mare in the form of Battle Ofthe Bulge (by Lancaster Bomber), and hopes are high he can continue his dam’s legacy.

With Cousin Casey a leading hope for the upcoming Gr1 Betway Summer Cup, this family could well be back in the limelight before too long!

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YUZAE MAKES IT LOOK SO EASY! Yuzae looks like he can’t believe how this story unfolded! | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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or 22 year old Yuzae Ramzan, receiving a feature race callup from SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith was tantamount to getting the thumbs-up from Rassie Erasmus to run out in the Springbok jersey to take on the All Blacks at the Stade De France – that after only ever having been reserve orange peeler for the third rugby team at school!

The quietly spoken former Alexander Road High School graduate was chatting to the Sporting Post on Monday after registering the biggest victory of his short career in the saddle. He guided Nic Jonsson’s progressive stayer Mucho Dinero to victory in Saturday’s Listed Woolavington Stakes at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, in the manner of an old pro who had been there, got the t-shirt, and had seen the movie! Yuzae tells that when Gavin Smith Racing assistant Dean Smith contacted him early last week to give him the heads-up to expect a call from Justin Snaith, he was naturally taken aback. He had only ever had one ride – a pick up at that – for the Snaith team. When the call came, there was no dithering or thinking about it. “I can ride at 50kgs and if it’s a Snaith horse, I realised that I had to have a shout. Then I looked at the form and realised that I really did have something here!” The irony is that as the early Saturday morning Airlink flight approached the Mother City, Yuzae was enjoying his first ever sight of the worldfamous city! “It was my first time in Cape Town. I was feeling very excited. I was not sure what to expect. When the Uber driver dropped me at the gates of Hollywoodbets Durbanville, I was struck by the ambience – beautiful trees and greenery, and everything was so neat and classy,” 26 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

he recalls as he chats to us about the biggest day of his professional life. Yuzae rode Renowned for the Snaiths in the opener. That was his first feel of the country course and then he had a three hour plus wait for the feature. “I just relaxed and took in the atmosphere and the friendly people. Grant van Niekerk gave me some insight as to how to ride Mucho Dinero and he encouraged me to relax. In the parade ring Mr Snaith put me under no pressure. He said ride him as I find him. He told me he’s a decent horse and would run a good race. I had watched the replays, so I knew that he likes to race from off them.” The Gqeberha-based jockey adds that Mucho Dinero proved to be a pleasure, and an easy ride.

“They have positive attitudes towards racing, and are always willing to give advice and help the apprentices. They are both gentlemen with impeccable manners and are good role models.” “He’s the kind of horse that drops himself out. I had to work on him a bit early. Into the straight

he got serious. I gave him one smack and he responded immediately. He was hanging in a bit, but I changed my crop to the left and he took off. I rode and pushed him with my right hand. At the 100m marker I could hear the opposition fading into the distance. Wow, what an awesome feeling when we hit the line! I smacked him affectionately to say thanks with my right hand down the shoulder and I punched the air – and the crowd cheered!” He then adds, almost apologetically, that the last time he had been so animated at the winning line was at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 14 December 2018 – the day he rode his first winner, Captain Cobalt, for trainer Lowan Denysschen. We asked him to compare the vibe at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday to his home track, Fairview.

“More people and much more social, I would say, when compared to a routine day at Fairview. But there was quite a vibe at Fairview on Sunday for the Algoa Cup Festival,” he observes We asked him how he celebrated the big win. “All the guys in the jockey room at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, and even a few trainers, came up and shook my hand. I had so many whatsapps from everybody, including my very proud Dad, when I switched my phone on after racing. I spent Saturday evening with a colleague in Cape Town. Then flew back early on Sunday. Mr Gavin Smith bought me a drink after races and congratulated me!”

So where to now for the man who does most of his work riding for the East Cape champion yard of Gavin Smith yard? “Us lower-key jockeys don’t get many chances. So I am very privileged to have been given a golden opportunity and really pleased that it all worked out. There are no expectations that I will be getting any more call-ups. But I am on standbye and ready whenever they need me!” Looking at life overall, Yuzae, who resides with his Dad Rashid and Mom Razwan at the family’s Lorraine home west of Gqeberha, says that he is happy and very fortunate, and has no regrets about his career choice. “We are a close-knit community and I have so many friends. It’s not easy in terms of the cost of medical aid and the like, for jockeys with a family to look after. I pay my folks board and lodging and they have always taught me the principles of looking after your money.” Asked who his inspirations were early on, Yuzae says trainer Michael Roberts drummed into him the importance of judging pace, while Calvin Habib and Brandon Lerena are two more senior jockeys that come to mind. “They have positive attitudes towards racing, and are always willing to give advice and help the apprentices. They are both gentlemen with impeccable manners and are good role models.” Asked if he would like to do something different, he says that he would like to travel and ride in the different centres, if the opportunities arose. “I was enjoying KZN where I trained at the SA Jockey Academy, but when covid hit I moved home to Gqeberha,” he reflects.

He then adds that he had written to owner Nic Jonsson and trainer Justin Snaith to thank them Taxed on what he does in his spare time, the for giving him the chance. smartly single man concedes a love of horror and comedy movies – and he watches a lot of “They were both so kind in their responses!” racing from around the country. he adds. 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 27

Yuzae Ramzan – quiet young man taking the opportunities | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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EXPERT EYE

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EXPERT EYE (GB) | 2015 | 16 hh v

Try My Best

Waajib Coryana

Royal Applause Auction Ring

Flying Melody Whispering Star

ACCLAMATION

Lorenzaccio

Ahonoora Helen Nichols

Princess Athena Floribunda

Shopping Wise Sea Melody Danzig

Danehill Razyana

Dansili Kahyasi

Hasili Kerali

EXEMPLIFY

Mr Prospector

Distant View Seven Springs

Quest To Peak Nureyev

Viviana Nijinsky Star

Northern Dancer Sex Appeal Sassafras Rosolini Bold Bidder Hooplah Sound Track Peggy West Klairon Phoenissa Martial Quaker Girl Princely Gift Astrentia Tudor Minstrel Cowes Northern Dancer Pas De Nom His Majesty Spring Adieu Ile De Bourbon Kadissya High Line Sookera Raise A Native Gold Digger Irish River La Trinite Northern Dancer Special Nijinsky II Chris Evert

the G1 Middle Park Stakes (1200m), G1 Haydock Sprint Cup (1200m), G2 Gimcrack Stakes (1200m) and G3 Coventry Stakes (1200m). Royal Applause is also the broodmare sire of multiple G1 winner Blue Point. Acclamation won the G2 Diadem Stakes and was placed in the G2 Temple Stakes, G2 King’s Stand Stakes (behind Choisir, beating Oasis Dream), and the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes (behind Oasis Dream). Acclamation has sired some of the best sprinter/milers of recent times - Battaash, Harry Angel, Real World, Mecca’s Angel, Romantic Warrior, Equiano, Marsha (sold for a record 6 million guineas as a filly in training), Harbour Watch, Aclaim, Dark Angel, Mehmas, etc. Acclamation has founded his own ‘sire-line’, and is the sire of current leading sires Dark Angel, Mehmas and Harry Angel - Dark Angel’s 2023 stud fee is €60,000, and Mehmas’ stud fee is also €60,000.

SIRE: ACCLAMATION

ACCLAMATION went on to prove himself a leading sprinter before becoming Champion First Season Sire. He subsequently achieved great success at stud and went on to sire G1 producing sons and daughters, which heaps enormous credit on this son of Royal Applause. Acclamation was bred to be precocious - his dam Princess Athena won the G3 Queen Mary Stakes (1000m), and his sire Royal Applause won 30 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

BROODMARE SIRE: DANSILI

DANSILI was Champion Sire in France in 2006 and has become an exceptional broodmare sire producing group winners Nezwaah, Cliffs Of Moher, Chicquita, Time Test, Snow Sky, Agent Murphy, Astaire, Dream Of Dreams, Naval Crown, Danon The Kid, Uni, etc. His successful sire sons include Bated Breath, Zoffany, Harbinger, etc. Dansili (stud fee £65,000), was pensioned in 2018, and his influence will be felt for many years to come through his sons and daughters.

FEMALE LINE 1st Dam EXEMPLIFY (Dansili) - winner at 2. Dam of 6 winners incl: EXPERT EYE (Acclamation), won 5 races, £1,369,751 in GB and USA at 2 and 3 years, Breeders’ Cup Mile G1, Vintage S G2, Jersey S G3, City of York S G3; 2nd Sussex S G1, Greenham S G3; 3rd Prix du Moulin G1, from 10 starts. TFR 124. Sire. Duty Of Care (Kingman), 4 wins in GB. Invigilate (Acclamation), 2 wins in Germany. 2nd Dam QUEST TO PEAK (Distant View) - raced once. Dam of 6 winners: SPECIAL DUTY (Hennessy), Champion 2yo Filly in Europe. Champion 2yo Filly in France & GB. 4 wins 2 at 2 from 11001600m, £323,589, €434,240, Poule d’Essai des Pouliches G1, Cheveley Park S G1, The One Thousand Guineas G1, Prix Robert Papin G2; 2nd Prix Morny G1, Prix Yacowlef L; 3rd Prix Imprudence G3. Dam of: TASK FORCE (Frankel), 2 wins at 2 in 2023, Champion 2yo Trophy L. ELEGANT VERSE (Galileo), 2 wins including Prix Dirickx L. Structure, dam of: Snow House (Twirling Candy), 2 wins; 3rd Dwyer S G3, Carle Place S L. South Bank (Tapit), 2nd Prix Yacowlef L. Presidency (Oasis Dream), Champion Male Sprinter in Spain. 7 wins to 1400m, €170,650; 3rd Prix Servanne L; 4th Prix de RisOrangis G3. Ventoux (Galileo), winner at 2400m in France. Dam of: Colombier (Kingman), 2 wins at 1600m, 2000m in 2023; 3rd Prix Daphnis G3.

3rd Dam VIVIANA (Nureyev) - 3 wins at 2000m, incl Prix des Tuileries L, Prix Mélisande L; 2nd Prix de Psyché G3. Sister to Willstar (dam of ETOILE MONTANTE, UNO DUO), three-quarter-sister to DANCE DREAMER, half-sister to REVASSER, HOMETOWN QUEEN (dam of BOWMAN’S BAND). Dam of 5 winners: SIGHTSEEK (Distant View), Joint second top filly on The 2003 International 4YO+ Classification. 12 wins from 1200m to 1800m, $2,445,216, Beldame S G1 (twice), Ruffian H G1, Ogden Phipps H G1 (twice), Go For Wand H G1, Humana Distaff H G1, Rampart H G2, Top Flight H G2, Raven Run S G3; 2nd Santa Margarita H G1, Santa Monica H G1, Go for Wand H G1, La Canada S G2. Dam of: Raison d’Etat (AP Indy), 2 wins; 3rd Discovery Handicap G3. Sire. TATES CREEK (Rahy), 11 wins from 1100m to 2000m, $1,471,674, Yellow Ribbon S G1, Gamely H G1, Diana H G2, Las Palmas H G2, San Gorgonio H G2, Noble Damsel H G3, Jenny Wiley S G3, Finlandia Cup H L; 2nd John C Mabee H G1, Just A Game H G3. Dam of: SPIRIT RIDGE (Nathaniel), 7 wins, Summer Cup G3, Premier’s Cup G3; 2nd Sky High S G3, Premier’s Cup G3, Tattersall’s Cup G3; 3rd Hobart Cup G3, Launceston Cup G3. Routine (Empire Maker), dam of: TIDE OF THE SEA (English Channel), 5 wins, $543,237, WL McKnight S G3, Japan Turf Cup L; 2nd Fort Marcy S G2, Mac Diarmida S G2, Grand Couturier S L; 3rd John’s Call S L. Flourish (Distorted Humor), 2 wins at 1700m, 1900m. Dam of: FULSOME (Into Mischief), 8 wins, $1,244,553, Matt Winn S G3, Smarty Jones S G3, Governor’s S G3, Oaklawn Mile S G3; 2nd Fayette S G2; 3rd Clark S G1, Indiana Derby G3.

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THE G1 BREEDERS’ CUP MILE WINNER WITH 2YO BRILLIANCE - TIMEFORM 124 v

SOUTH AFRICAN COMPARISONS CHAMPION SIRES BY TIMEFORM RATING

ABADAN II WILWYN DRUM BEAT HIGH VELDT SILVANO EXPERT EYE VERCINGETORIX VAR FAIRTHORN FOVEROS TRIPPI PERSIAN WONDER ROYAL PREROGATIVE GOLDEN THATCH FORT WOOD NEW SOUTH WALES PREAMBLE II AL MUFTI PENT HOUSE II NOBLE CHIEFTAIN 32 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

1947 1948 1953 1953 1996 2015 2009 1999 1942 1976 1997 1959 1969 1976 1990 1961 1952 1985 1952 1952

Front cover and page 2 photos © Melanie Sauer

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EXPERT EYE v

(GB) 2015 by Acclamation - Exemplify (Dansili)

• Sire of Royal Ascot stakes-winning 2yo SNELLEN and G3 winning 2yo JUNIPER BERRIES. His stakes placed horses include Witness Stand, Isabel Alexandra, Beautifulnavigator and Violet Gibson. • Sire of 38 2yo winners. • G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner by Acclamation, a sire of top class 2yo’s and sire of top class two-year-old sires - Dark Angel and Mehmas. • The only son of Acclamation to win a G1 over a mile - with a higher Timeform rating (124) than Dark Angel (113), Mehmas (115) and Acclamation himself (118). • Won the G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot by the biggest winning margin this century. • Winner of the G2 Vintage Stakes as a 2yo in a performance described by Timeform as “arguably the most striking performance by a 2yo in a Pattern race all year”. • A fourth generation Juddmonte homebred from the family of Champion 2yo Filly in Europe and dual Classic winner, SPECIAL DUTY. • “He’s naturally precocious, very well-balanced, well developed and mature. You would have to say that he’s the best two-year-old that I have had for quite a while. He’s been pretty natural from the beginning. Before we ran him we knew that he was pretty smart, as he has always shown speed and been very athletic”. - Sir Michael Stoute

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EXPERT EYE (GB) - RACE RECORD v

AGE

STARTS

WINS

PLACED

EARNED

2yo: 3yo:

3 7

2 3

117,463 1,252,288

TOTAL

£1,369,751

TWO YEAR OLD Joint 4th top rated 2yo colt in Europe in 2017. © Dan Abraham

Won Insurance Novice Stakes, Newbury, (1300m. beating Mutakatif and Barraquero). Vintage Stakes G2, Goodwood.

Won Vintage Stakes G2, Goodwood, by 4,5 lengths (1400m. beating Zaman and Mildenberger). THREE YEAR OLD Won Breeders’ Cup Mile G1, Churchill Downs (1600m beating Catapult and Analyze It).

Photo: Juddmonte Farms

Won Jersey Stakes G3, Royal Ascot, by 4,5 lengths (1400m beating Society Power and Could It Be Love). Won Sky Bet City of York Stakes G3, York (1400m. beating Gordon Lord Byron and Arbalet). 2nd

Qatar Sussex Stakes G1, Goodwood (1600m to Lightning Spear).

2nd

Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes G3, Newbury (1400m to James Garfield),

3rd

Prix du Moulin de Longchamp G1, Lonchamps (1600m to Recoletos).

Credit: Reuters

Breeders’ Cup Mile G1, Churchill Downs.

Sky Bet City of York Stakes G3, York. 34 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Jersey Stakes G3, Royal Ascot.

EXPERT EYE (GB) - PROGENY

SNELLEN (2yo filly) winner of the Chesham Stakes L (colts and fillies) at Royal Ascot over 1400m.

JUNIPER BERRIES (2yo filly) wins the Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes G3 at Salisbury over 1200m.

8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 35

EXPERT EYE v

Now Syndicating (Limited Shares Available)

Leading GB/IRE based Sires in Europe by Stakes (TDN). 1st Crop Sires 2022 1 Havana Grey (GB) 2 Sioux Nation (USA) 3 Saxon Warrior (JPN) 4 Harry Angel (IRE) 5 Zoustar (AUS) 6 Kessaar (IRE) 7 Expert Eye (GB) 8 U S Navy Flag (USA) 9 Cracksman (GB) 10 Tasleet (GB) 2nd Crop Sires 2023 1 Cracksman (GB) 2 Havana Grey (GB) 3 Sioux Nation (USA) 4 Saxon Warrior (JPN) 5 Harry Angel (IRE) 6 Zoustar (AUS) 7 Tasleet (GB) 8 Expert Eye (GB) 9 U S Navy Flag (USA) 10 Kessaar (IRE)

(*to 1 November 2023)

Paardeberg Stud Vryguns Road

Contact: Sally Bruss

Agter Paarl

+27 (0)66 220 1587

Western Cape South Africa, 7630 36 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

sally@paardebergstud.com paardebergstud.com

for Grooms! v

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EQUINOX’S WORLD RECORD v

– AND THE SEARCH FOR GREATNESS

How is that even possible? To have the Speed to run this fast for 1000m and then the Stamina to keep going and even accelerating for another 1000m to stop the clock at 1min 55.2sec for 2000m. Superstar Equinox wins the $6m Longines Dubai Sheema Classic | Credit:Chase Liebenberg 38 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

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Robin Bruss writes that when the world’s current best racehorse EQUINOX (JPN) won the Tenno Sho (Autumn) Gr.1 over 2000m on turf in Tokyo on 29th October to win his fifth consecutive Group 1 race, he smashed the track and world record by clocking 1 min 55,2 sec. To understand the context, Equinox ran 2,3 seconds faster than he did when he won the same race in 2022, and even then his 1 min 57,5 secs was hailed as a supremely fast time. Secretariat holds the track record for the Kentucky Derby at 1 min 59,4 secs which has stood for 50 years. The American 10 furlong record was set by Spectacular Bid 43 years ago and his 26 wins included 13 Gr.1 wins amongst them the Strub S. at Santa Anita in 1 min 57,8 secs. Breaking down Equinox’s world record of 1 min 55.2 secs, each half would have been run in 57,6 secs. for 1000m., a fast time for a specialist sprinter, but then Equinox, in coming from 5 lengths off the pace, must have run the second 1000m in 56,6 seconds.

Not only do they have Equinox, the best racehorse in the world, but Japanese breds this year won the world’s richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup over 1800m and the $12 million Dubai World Cup over 2000m, the second richest. Equinox began his racing career unbeaten in two starts at 2 years, both over 1800m., then as a 3 year old, he was beaten a neck in the Japanese Derby over 2400m, before starting his 5x Group 1 winning streak, winning the Tenno Sho Gr.1 over 2000m and the Arima Kinnen Gr.1 over 2500m. In Dubai he won the $6 million Sheema Classic Gr.1 over 2400m in a canter leaving 7 other European Gr.1 winners in his wake to emerge as the no.1 horse in the world. Returning home to Japan, he won another Gr.1 at 2200m and now this world record performance at 2000m in a masterful display of both speed AND stamina.

How is that even possible? To have the speed to run this fast for 1000m and then the stamina to keep going and even accelerating for another 1000m ? “He is a versatile horse that can run from any position, stay calm during the race and make use of his speed at the finish” said jockey Christophe Lemaire. It’s not that he outstayed the others, it’s that he sprinted away from them. This got me thinking about the blend of speed and stamina that breeders must plan in trying to produce not just good horses, but Great Horses. It’s a common belief that you must retain speed, it’s the essential of all top class horses, the ability to accelerate. But how can you discard stamina? In the modern era of commercial yearlings, stamina is increasingly unfashionable, and we see this trend in most countries, except for Japan. And there is little doubt that for Japan, stamina is paying global dividends at the winning post. 40 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

The author, Robin Bruss | Credit: Supplied

Equinox winning the Tenno Sho in record time, eased down! | Credit: JRA

Equinox’s sire Kitasan Black was a Japanese bred champion runner by Black Kite, a Listed Stakes winning full brother to the 10x Champion Sire Deep Impact, both were by Kentucky Derby winner, Sunday Silence, the modern foundation sire of Japanese breeding. Kitasan Black won 12 of his 20 starts, amongst them were five Group 1 wins, at 2000m, 2400m, 2500m, 3000m and 3200m. I daresay that in the current prejudice against stamina, if you had offered to stand him at stud in Europe, he would have been consigned as a National Hunt stallion, and in South Africa, he would have been lucky to get a mare at all. The dam of Equinox was a Gr.3 winner at 2000m., and therefore had racing class. As we know, Graded races are 3% of all races and therefore if a filly can win a Graded Stakes, she automatically is better than 97% of all horses in training. Mating her to a Gr.1 winning stallion, puts the resulting progeny into what I would term, the ‘probability’ arena of being in the top 2% of the foal crop. But a 2000m mare mated to a 3200m stallion ? What can you expect, where is the speed in the

planned mating? Would such a mating plan predicate a one paced stayer? Equinox’s Gr.3 winning dam is by King Halo (JPN), a son of Arc (2400m) winner Dancing Brave. The next dam is by Arc (2400m) Tony Bin, and 3rd dam is by dual Arc (2400m) winner Alleged. There are piles of stamina. In searching for the speed in the pedigree, I found an interesting point. KING HALO is the product of two superstars in his sire Dancing Brave and his dam Goodbye Halo. They won 10 Gr.1 races between them, including the Arc and the Kentucky Oaks respectively and were horses of the highest class, both had great acceleration and both were Gr.1 winners at 1600m and then extended that to 2400m. King Halo, the son of these two Gr.1 champions, also became a Gr.1 winner in Japan, but the surprising part is that his Japanese Gr.1 win was recorded at 6 furlongs (1200m). So there is the line of speed, and not just a sprinter’s speed, he was genetically bred to also stay and actually also ran 4th in the Arima Kinen Gr.1 over 2500m in his final start. Speed AND Stamina.

8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 41

The great Italian breeder Federico Tesio, breeder of unbeaten world champions Nearco and Ribot, noted this: “To produce a great horse, one must be able to find amongst his ancestors, individuals which showed classic quality at one mile, 10 furlongs, 12 furlongs and 2 miles. Without a representative of one mile it will be difficult to produce a horse of outstanding quality, because he will be incapable of those bursts of nervous energy which are synonymous with speed.” The noteworthy part of this statement is that winning at one mile is one factor, it’s the winning at 10 furlongs, 12 furlongs and 2 miles, which he also favoured in breeding great horses. I suppose this might be considered a bygone era as Nearco was born in 1935 and Ribot 1952.

Northern Dancer – a revolutionary | Credit: Supplied 42 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Nearco was never beaten in 14 starts, winning 7 times from 1000m to 1600m as a 2 year old. Then 7 more wins at 3 years including the Italian Derby (2400m) and the GP de Paris (3000m). The perfect horse, possessing speed AND stamina along with brilliant acceleration. Ribot was never beaten in 16 starts from 1000m on his debut up to 3000m in the GP de Milano and in between he won the Arc twice and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. all at 2400m. Another perfect horse, possessing speed AND stamina along with brilliant acceleration. Lord Derby’s great breed shaping English stallion Hyperion won the New Stakes over 1000m at 2 years, the 1933 English Derby (2400m) at 3 and was 3rd in the Ascot Gold Cup at 4000m.

Sea Cottage - champion | Credit: Supplied

Northern Dancer, the Canadian bred who revolutionised world breeding, won 14 of his 18 starts, including 7 wins as a two year old starting at 6 furlongs and peaking in the 1964 Kentucky Derby at 10 furlongs in record time. Similarly the great Secretariat, who 16 wins began at 6 furlongs at two years and peaked with the Triple Crown, including the Belmont Stakes at 12 furlongs. Both had speed that they could carry into tests of stamina. All of these great champions were sound and tough enough to win double digit numbers of races, were thoroughly tested in performance. Stamina, if you think about it, brings together a range of characteristics which are so desirable in any racehorse. Staying horses clock up a lot of mileage in order to be fit for long distance racing and therefore must be sound and tough and durable. They race often and have grand constitutions and they also must have good

cardio vascular systems, strong hearts and lungs. These are desirable traits to pass on to progeny, whether you plan to breed sprinters, milers or stayers and vital if you want to breed a Champion that can do it all. It is this interplay between speed and stamina that greatness lies. How often do we find that the greatest horses in South African racing also had the versatility of speed and stamina. Some quick examples spring to mind Sea Cottage (1962) – 20 wins in 24 starts from 5 furlongs on his debut through to the Cape Derby at 12 furlongs. Hawaii (1966) won 21 of his 28 starts from 800m on his debut in Johannesburg to 2400m when he won the Man O War Stakes in New York. Horse Chestnut (1995) won his debut over 1000m and ran all distances up to the South African Derby over 2400m which he won by 10 lengths. 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 43

These are the greatest horses of South African racing, but it’s been a long time since we last saw their like, their class, their versatility, their durability, their ability to demonstrate this rare capability to win over all distances, great and precocious speed AND the stamina to carrying it over all distances.

centrepiece of the English Derby. Increasingly we see that Derby winners, both in England and Ireland, are less regarded because they won at a mile and a half.

It’s because the focus has become more inclined to the auction ring, instead of the winning post.

By way of example, look at the three best sons of the peerless Frankel in the world today – 2022 Joint World Champion Hurricane Lane, winner of three G1s at 2400m, including the Irish Derby, has been sold as a National Hunt stallion; his equal Adayar who won the 2022 English Derby, could not find enough breeder support in England and has been sent off to Darley Japan. And Westover, winner of the 2022 Irish Derby by 7 lengths has been sold to Japan for the same reason.

With that comes an aversion of breeders to acquire and patronise stallions that are stamina oriented. If I thought this was a uniquely South African thing, I am also dismayed to see its prevalence in British breeding, the home of the thoroughbred and its 243 year

Hukum, who won Ascot’s showpiece the 2023 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. Gr.1 over 2400m by a nose over Westover has also been exported to Japan. The 2022 winner of the same race and triple Gr.1 winner Pyledriver has just been sold as a stallion for National Hunt.

In today’s increasingly commercial yearling market, we see this trend to move away from stallions that demonstrated 2400m stamina. It’s like the breed is changing, but the great races have not.

Persian Wonder | Credit: Supplied 44 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Maine Chance stallion Erupt | Credit: Jeremy Nelson

How can stamina be regarded as the commercial kiss of death? Japan’s gain is surely England’s loss. In the 1950s, post war South Africa was booming and breeders were able to buy stallions cheaply in Great Britain and we were in a golden age with more than 15 sons of Hyperion and Nearco imported for stud. Of course, the majority were laden with stamina. High Veldt (1953), by Hyperion, won over 5 furlongs at 2years, progressed to show his best form at 12 furlongs and ran 2nd to Ribot in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. Gr.1. Ranked 126 lbs by Timeform as a high class racehorse, he became champion sire of 2 year olds in South Africa as well as topping the General Sires List and sired winners over all distances including Elevation – another great

horse, who won top division over 1000m, three Summer Cups over 2000m and the SA Derby over 2450m. Other imported stallions like Preamble (6 wins, 1200m to 3200m), Herculaneum (3 wins, 2400m to 2800m inc the St Leger), Sun Compass (6 wins, 1000m to 2400m), Noble Chieftain (3 wins from 1000m to 3000m) and Wilwyn (21 wins from 1000m to 2400m), all become exceptional stallions capable of producing top class horses over all distances. Persian Wonder (6 wins in England from 1200m to 2000m and stayed 2400m) and Jungle Cove (6 wins in USA from 1400m to 2600m) 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 45

each led the SA Sires Championship 6 times. Twenty years ago, Japan was a non-entity in global breeding, but now they have become a powerhouse, not just because of their focus on stamina with all its beneficial characteristics of soundness, toughness and durability, that allows their top horses to race until 6 and 7 years old, but also because of the way they have organised their industry and created fanatical fans. When Equinox won last week, the attendance was 78,870 people, who came to witness a great horse in action, the best in the world. In South Africa, its more than 10 years since our homebred horses were winning graded races in America, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Our exports are down to trickle because of 12 years of AHS protocol suspension. We also have seen less than a trickle of stallions being imported, and none for the past 12 months until the recent arrival of Breeders Cup Mile winner Expert Eye. If stamina stallions are discounted by Britain, it represents an opportunity for South Africa.

46 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

When the French dual Gr.1 winner at 2400m Erupt (IRE) arrived in South Africa, it was said by more than one breeder that he was too stout for South Africa. And yet, the same comments were made when Silvano (GER) arrived but soon stopped when Silvano became 6 times Champion Sire. Erupt only raced from 2000m to 2400m in Europe but in South Africa he is a sire of speed horses and with 3 crops in play, he has yet to sire even one foal that stays as far as 2400m.! Again, the interplay for stamina and speed can be unpredictable. But one thing remains clear. In the quest to breed Great Champions, July winners, Met winners, Summer Cup and Triple Crown winners, both stamina AND speed are highly important components that cannot be dismissed by savvy breeders or their buyers. • The author: Robin Bruss is a widely respected industry expert and a man with an encyclopaedic knowledge of horseracing and breeding. He has been involved with the sport all of his life, as a Gr1 winning owner and breeder, agent, auctioneer, journalist, television presenter, researcher, administrator and consultant.

8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 47

TSHWANE CONNECTION TO BREEDERS’ CUP WINNER Nobals storms home under Gerald Corrales to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Credit: Breeders’ Cup World Championships

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To mention a few homebaked names like Cetewayo, Ntombi, Buthulezi, De Aar, Somerset West, Sarie Marais – and now the cheekily named, Nobals!

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Juddmonte Farm needs no introduction as one of the world’s great breeding and racing operations, its name being synonymous with some of the greats of the modern era. At the head of its American division is long-time president Dr John Chandler, the Pretoria-born and educated veterinarian who has been central to the development of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah’s racing and breeding empire. And whilst he has witnessed many a champion emerge from the farm’s Bluegrass paddocks, Chandler has tasted success as a breeder in his own capacity, most recently when fouryear-old Nobals recorded the biggest win of his career in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita this past weekend. Cheekily named perhaps, this gelded son of Frankel’s Gr1 winning own brother Noble Mission is a fourth generation Chandler bred, from a family which he founded almost half a century ago from French-bred Pharlette.

Guy Harwood and placed in both starts at two. Timeform described her as ‘as a sparely-made filly, hasn’t much scope’. Returned to her birth country, she proved that unflattering description all wrong and ended her racing career as a three-time winner. Handsome is as handsome does, for the ‘sparely made’ Aletta Maria became an outstanding producer of two Gr1 winners and nine black type performers from 15 foals. True to his roots, Chandler gave virtually all her offspring names with a South African connotation, the best of which the colt Cetewayo, who retired a turf millionaire. Named after the great Zulu leader, the son of His Majesty lived up to his exalted name by

Lightly-raced - she started just twice in France at two, winning over a mile - this daughter of Pharly proved her worth in the paddocks, producing eight winners from nine foals, amongst which the Gr2 Flying Childers Stakes victor Raah Algharb and Pharian, who won the Gr3 Lancashire Oaks and Listed Cheshire Oaks. Nobals descends from Raah Algharb’s full sister Western Wind. By Gone West, she won at three and four and also became a stakes producer as the dam of Gr3 winner Western Ransom. Put to Empire Maker, Western Ransom bred Pearly Blue, the dam of Nobals. Like her grandam, she proved no more than modest on the track, winning just twice, but has come good as a Gr1 producer. Nobals apart, Pearly Blue is also dam of stakes placed My First Pearl. Interestingly, it is Pharian’s own sister Aletta Maria who kept the family’s name up in lights before Nobals became its latest Gr1 success. By Diesis, she started her career in Britain with 50 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

SA born Dr John Chandler | Credit: Supplied

winning the Gr1 Sword Dancer Invitational at four and as an eight-year-old, captured the Gr1 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Handicap whilst equalling the course record in the Gr3 Stars and Stripes Breeders’ Cup Turf Handicap at Arlington. Arlington was also the track where his Dynaformer half-sister Dynaforce captured the Gr1 Beverly D Stakes to go along with victory in Belmont’s Gr1 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes, whilst Kris S half-brother Bowman Mill captured the Gr2 Sky Classic and was runner-up in the Gr1 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes.

place in the Gr2 Bowling Green Handicap. Bryntirion, named for the luxury estate that South African cabinet ministers call home, ran second in the Gr2 Prix Saint-Roman and the Gr3 Cinema Handicap, while the filly De Aar was runner-up in the Gr3 Gallorette Handicap and subsequently produced the hard-knocking Gr2 winning millionaire and sire Willcox Inn. Her own sister Somerset West followed suit as the dam of stakes winners Seaspeak and Innovation Economy.

Which brings us to Aletta Maria’s other ‘South African’-named foals, so to speak.

And of course, there was Sarie Marais. A stakes-placed daughter of Unbridled, she features as the grandam of Chandler-bred stakes winner Twilight Blue.

Ntombi landed the Listed Hilltop Stakes and produced stakes-placed Buthelezi; Fort Nottingham ran third in the Gr1 Prix Lupin, whereas Thabazimbi filled the same

Clearly then, Chandler has enjoyed plenty of success from a turf family he has nurtured with patience and skill over many decades. Nobals is its latest masterpiece.

8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 51

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The winner at the post-race celebration | Credit: Racing TV

ORTIZ GRABS SECOND CLASSIC WIN 2 Racing Stable and Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio took over at the head of the stretch and went on to post a 1-length victory over Derma Sotogake (JPN) to win the 40th running of the $6 million Gr1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita. Trained by Rick Dutrow and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., White Abarrio completed the mile and a quarter in 2:02.57 over a fast main track. It is the fourth Breeders’ Cup victory for Dutrow and second in the Classic, having won in 2005 with Saint Liam. It is the second Classic win for Ortiz, who guided Vino Rosso to victory in the 2019 running and 19th overall in the World Championships. Arabian Knight shot right to the front and led the field through fractions of :22.46, :45.73 and 1:10.28 while under token pressure from Saudi

Crown with White Abarrio tracking in third. On the far turn, Saudi Crown retreated and White Abarrio moved to the leader, quickly taking the advantage and opening up on his rivals. Derma Sotogake rallied to get second by 1 ¼ lengths over Proxy, who finished a neck in front of Arabian Knight. Completing the field in order were Ushba Tesoro (JPN), Bright Future, Senor Buscador, Dreamlike, Zandon, Saudi Crown, Clapton and Missed the Cut. White Abarrio is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Race Day out of the Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds. The victory was worth $3,120,000 and increased White Abarrio’s earnings to $4,946,350 with a record of 15-7-1-3 that includes three Grade 1 victories. 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 53

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8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 55

BACK TO DEL MAR IN 2024! 56 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

The 40th Breeders’ Cup World Championships returned some truly global results on Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita, as rising American star White Abarrio defeated a Japanese horse in the $6 million Classic and the Europeans ruled in the big turf events.

The weekend, blessed with perfect weather, also saw some dramatic and heart-warming moments through the 14 Championship races. In 2024, the Breeders’ Cup returns to San Diego’s iconic racing venue, Del Mar, where the turf meets the surf. 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 57

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SEVENTH BREEDERS’ CUP STRIKE FOR DUBAWI Master Of The Seas pips Mawj in a Godolphin 1-2 In Breeders’ Cup Mile on Saturday | Credit: Godolphin

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Darley’s outstanding stallion Dubawi claimed his seventh Breeders’ Cup win overall on Saturday when his son Master Of The Seas overcame a wide berth to cap a Godolphin 1-2 land the Gr1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by Permanently Disabled Jockeys.

paternal half-brother a top fancy for the 2024 Betfred Derby.

In the process, the gelding became the third son of his legendary sire to win the Mile in the past three years, with Dubawi sons Space Blues (2021) and Modern Games (2022) victorious in the past two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

An unbeaten champion at two and dual Gr1 winner at three, Too Darn Hot has been responsible for four group winning two-yearolds this year, including Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes/Gr3 Aspall Cyder 1728 Sweet Solera Stakes queen Fallen Angel.

Master Of The Seas, Space Blues and Modern Games (also victorious in the 2021 Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf) join the likes of Rebel’s Romance, Wuheida and Yibir as Breeders’ Cup winners sired by Dubawi.

Dubawi’s son Night Of Thunder is the sire of 2023 Gr1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines queen Highfield Princess, while Zarak’s son Zagrey became his sire’s first Gr1 winner when he won the 2023 153rd Wettstar. de Grosser Preis von Baden.

While Master Of The Seas, winner of the Gr1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes back in September, is a gelding, his aforementioned paternal half-brothers Space Blues and Modern Games are both now standing at stud in an attempt to further enhance Dubawi’s dazzling legacy. Dubawi has been responsible for a remarkable 36 stakes winners in 2023, where the triple Gr1 winner has, once again, supplied Gr1 winners over a host of distances. From the Gr1 winning two-year-olds Ancient Wisdom (Kameko Futurity Trophy) and Henry Longfellow (Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes) to top-class stayer Eldar Eldarov (Comer Group International Irish St Leger) and high-class daughters Al Husn (Qatar Nassau Stakes), Dubawi has, yet again, shown this year what an exceptional stallion he is. His sons Ancient Wisdom and Henry Longfellow currently rank among the leading betting fancies for next year’s English classics, with Henry Longfellow currently second favourite for the 2024 2000 Guineas and his 62 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

This year has also seen Dubawi enjoy tremendous success as a sire of sires. His ever growing list of successful stallion sons include New Bay, Night Of Thunder, Zarak and Too Darn Hot, with the latter making a huge impression with his first crop of two-year-olds in 2023.

Dubawi’s broodmare daughters have already enjoyed plenty of success, particuarly when mated to Frankel, and Dubawi had more success in 2023 as a broodmare sire through the deeds of Mostahdaf. Although the latter failed to fire when eighth in Saturday’s Gr1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, Mostahdaf had shown his class earlier in the year when victorious in both the Gr1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Gr1 Juddmonte International, and he will no doubt prove hugely popular in his first season at stud in 2024. Bred on the same Frankel/Dubawi cross as fellow Gr1 winners Adayar, Dream Castle and Homeless Songs, Mostahdaf, who is out of the Dubawi mare Handassa, is a half-brother to the dual Gr1 winner Nazeef (Invincible Spirit). The unstoppable Dubawi is also broodmare sire of Tuesday’s impressive Gr1 Lexus Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight, who was also victorious in the Gr1 Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup back in October.

MAIN DEFENDER (SAF)

VA RSFONT EI N DY NA S T I E S Nelson’s O n e o f t h e cu r r e n t t alking Column p o i n t s i n h o r s eracing

brought to ce n t e r s around t he you by ongoing co m pet it ion Varsfontein Stud b e t w e e n t w o t o p colt s, S a nd ri n g h a m S u m m i t a n d M a i n D e f e n d e r. B ot h o f t h e s e im p r e ssi v e r a c e r s a r e g r a d u a t es of Va rs f o n t e in S t u d . T h e i r r i v a l r y r e ce n t l y f l a red up a ga i n i n t h e G 3 G r ah a m B e ck S t a ke s , w h e r e M ain De f e n d e r e m e r g e d a s t h e v i c t o r. I n a pre vio u s a r t ic le , w e d e l v e d i n t o t h e ca p t iva t ing ta l e o f S a n d r in g h a m S u m m i t . N o w, i t ' s t im e t o e x p l o re t h e r ic h h i s t o r y b e h i n d M a i n D ef ender a nd o t h e r d is t in g u i s h e d g r a d e d s t a k e s winners w i t h i n h is f a m il y. T h i s n a r r a t i v e w i l l s h e d light o n t he p ivo t a l r o le s p l a y e d i n t h i s s u c ce s s st or y b y i n t e r n a t io n a ll y a c cl a i m e d e x p e r t s s u ch as A l e x a nd r a S c r o p e , Ba r r y I r w i n a n d Al a n Cooper. Th i s j ou r n e y o f e x c e l l e n ce s p a n s t w o d ecades, c o m m e n c in g w it h Va r s f o n t e i n ' s a cq u i s i t ion of A l e x a nd r a B i. VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

ALEXANDRA BI (IRE) (1994 by Darshaan - Miss Habit by Habitat) was purchased at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale and was imported by Varsfontein in 2001. Bloodstock agent Alexandra Scrope (Alex) had acquired Caesour for Varsfontein Stud, and Varsfontein had devised a plan to purchase some fillies and mares for the stallion. 'Alex' Scrope had a strong desire for Varsfontein to obtain a mare by Darshaan (specifically for Caesour), a rarity in the market as they were highly prized. She came across Alexandra Bi at the December Mare Sale, and although she was in foal to Entrepreneur (northern time), which meant waiting a year before moving her south, Susan and John were still enthusiastic. The acquisition took place over the phone with Susan in Harare, and a day or two later, Alex informed her that the mare was a weaver and that it hadn't been disclosed. Alex negotiated a discounted price, and the deal proceeded. Alexandra Bi eventually gave birth to a filly, and in the following autumn, 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 63 1

success, winning 7 races and earning R655,880 v

in prize money. His victories ranged from 1200 to 2000 meters, with notable achievements including the Memorial Mile L, 2nd in the SA Derby G2, and 3rd in the SA Classic G1. He also secured 4th place in the Daily News 2200 G1, Algoa Cup G3, Wolf Power H L and Drum Star H L. Alexandra Bi has emerged as the matriarch of a

DARSHAAN (GB)

flourishing bloodline at Varsfontein, just as other discerning acquisitions have. She boasts a classic

Alexandra Bi was bred (southern time) to Soviet Star (by Nureyev - Veruschka by Venture VII), a colt

pedigree that combines European and American lineage. She is by Darshaan (GB) (by Shirley Heights), a Champion Racehorse and Sire bred by

Susan and John had admired at Ascot in 1987 and 1988. Being by Nureyev, it was the male line cross

the Aga Khan, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré and was always ridden by Yves Saint-Martin.

that Susan, John and Alex wanted. She was then transported to Varsfontein. The Entrepreneur foal was presented at the December Foal Sale in 2000, where John met up with Alex to oversee the sale. John recalls that the filly showed promise in training, but was then injured and never raced. Alexandra Bi would have an outstanding career in SA producing 7 stakes winners and stakes placed

As a 2yo in 1983, Darshaan clinched victory in the prestigious G1 Critérium de Saint-Cloud, setting a race record time of 2:07,40 for 2000m, a record that held until 2010. As a 3yo, Darshaan continued to excel, securing wins in the G2 Prix Hocquart, G2 Prix Greffulhe, and the illustrious French classic, the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. In the 1984 International Classification, Darshaan ranked as the highest rated French trained 3yo and the third highest rated

progeny. She gave birth to her second foal in 2001, a colt named PAVLOVICH (SNL), who was a backward yearling, and did not reach his reserve at

3yo in Europe. Darshaan's influence as a broodmare sire is remarkable, with 225 of his progeny achieving

the 2003 National Yearling Sale. He was later sold

stakes winning status in the Northern Hemisphere.

to Geoff Woodruff and raced in the colours of Mr Y Khan. Over 24 starts spanning four seasons, Pavlovich

This accomplishment accounts for an impressive 9.1% of his runners in that region. Notably, 28 of these stakes winners are by the renowned Sadler's

was unplaced only twice. He achieved remarkable

Wells, and 95 trace their lineage back to Sadler's Wells' male-line descendants. The 9.1% stakes winner-to-runner ratio achieved by Darshaan as a broodmare sire is considered exceptional, a rare feat in the industry. To truly appreciate Darshaan's impact, it's essential to compare this achievement to the

performance of the stallions that covered his mares, which collectively produced a substantially lower stakes winner-to-runner ratio of 6.8%. This stark contrast emphasizes Darshaan's dominant role as PAVLOVICH (SNL) AS A YEARLING 2 64 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

a broodmare sire. VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

in 5 of them. v

Remarkably, Habitat did not race as a 2yo, but in 1969, as a 3yo, he established himself as the top European miler. His triumphs included prestigious victories in the G1 Lockinge Stakes and the G2 Wills Mile in England. He further showcased his talent by crossing the English Channel to secure wins in the G3 Prix Quincey and the prestigious G1

HABITAT (USA)

Prix du Moulin in France. Interestingly, despite his racing success, Habitat's

Additionally, the quality of Darshaan's 'elite daughters' is exceptional. Typically, mares of this

owner, Charles Engelhard, had no intentions of standing him as a stallion. Tim Rogers, the owner of the Airlie complex of Irish studs, recognized

calibre produce stakes winners at a rate of 10.5% to runners. However, Darshaan's 'elite daughters'

his potential and approached a select group of breeders. They agreed to invest in Habitat - if he

significantly outperform this standard, achieving an impressive 14.7% stakes winner rate. This outcome stands in favourable comparison to Darshaan's own notable record of 13.3% stakes winners to runners during his time as a sire. Alexandra Bi's dam Miss Habit is by Habitat (USA) (TFR 134), out of Little Hut (also the dam of Northfields). Habitat was a renowned Americanbred racehorse trained in Britain, whose racing

won the Prix du Moulin - and a deal was struck, with 40 shares sold for an unprecedented £10,000 each. Habitat took up residence at Grangewilliam Stud in Co. Kildare, where his initial stud fee was set at £2,750. Habitat's legacy was equally impressive at stud. He achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Northern Dancer in the race to sire 100 stakes winners, ultimately reaching a remarkable total of

career spanned from April to October 1969, during which he competed in 8 races, emerging victorious

109. Despite covering smaller books compared to many of his contemporaries, he had only a dozen horses ahead of him in this regard. As expected, Habitat made a substantial impact as a broodmare sire of European stakes winners. His daughters were responsible for producing the winners of 164 stakes races, securing him a notable fourth place in the rankings, trailing only behind the illustrious Sadler’s Wells, Darshaan, and Danehill. Alexandra Bi hails from a prolific family, with her 4th dam being stakes winner Bank Account (USA) (by Shut Out) - ancestress of a multitude of major stakes winners including NONOALCO (USA), STRADAVINSKY (GB), MAXIMOVA (FR), VILIKAIA (USA), FIESTA GAL (USA),

HABITAT'S OWNER CHARLES ENGELHARD with HAWAII VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

IMPECUNIOUS (USA), EXTRAVAGANT (USA), JAAMANIQUE, PHILONIKON, ALEXANDRA ROSE, OLEKSANDRA (AUS), FOREST INDIGO, and recent SA sensation MAIN DEFENDER. This 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 65 3

ALEXANDRA ROSE - G3 MONROVIA H USA BARRY IRWIN is largely an American family which has also had great success in Europe and South Africa. Alexandra Bi's 3rd foal was a filly, born in 2002, and her name was ALEXANDRA ROSE (by Caesour). Susan noted that she appeared quite advanced for her age but didn't seem to have much room for growth, which prompting Varsfontein to offer her at the 2004 Cape Yearling Sale, where she was purchased by Glen Kotzen. Carl de Vos described her as a "beautiful, high quality filly with substance - Glen Kotzen used to bring her across the road to Varsfontein to weigh her, as he did not yet have his own weighing platform, and every time I saw her, I admired her beauty".

Team Valor then concluded a transaction to acquire a 50-percent interest from owner Juan van Heerden. The G2 Golden Slipper winner would remain in training with Glen Kotzen and race through her 3yo season in South Africa. Plans were afoot for the filly to go to Dubai at 4 with Mike de Kock, and to the United States after that. "I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. van Heerden on a trip to South Africa," said Team Valor president Barry Irwin. "I told him that I was very impressed with the filly's win over 1400 meters in the Golden Slipper G2". Trainer Glen Kotzen recalls - "She was bought

Alexandra Rose won her first 3 races at 2, including the East Cape Fillies Nursery and the G2 Golden Slipper. Susan remembers watching her race "she had remarkable composure and confidence; she would confidently walk into the starting stalls without needing a handler's assistance".

66 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023 ALEXANDRA ROSE - G2 GOLDEN SLIPPER

GLEN KOTZEN

OLEKSANDRA (AUS) - G1 JAIPUR STAKES for a new client of mine - Juan Van Heerden - for a bargain price, as at the sale she had a severe sweet itch, and her mane had been hogged. But had you looked beneath this, as she was the most magnificent specimen - she was well balanced, had

produced a filly called OLEKSANDRA (AUS), who was sent to the USA to race in Team Valor's colours. Oleksandra was Graded placed twice before winning the G3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County S by 2 lengths. She was then 2nd in the G3 Monrovia

a deep girth, a big bold eye and moved beautifully." "On my visit to Arrowfield Stud in Australia some years later, I recognized her standing in a camp with none other than Champion Australian filly Miss

H before going on to win the G1 Jaipur S over 1200m. Her final race was in the G3 Poker S (for colts and fillies) over 1600m, where she beat Raging Bull (by Dark Angel) by a head. Raging Bull (a sire

Finland. She was in very good company and it was such a wonderful surprise to see her once again. Louis Le Metayer of Astute Bloodstock could not

at Gainesway USA) is a multiple G1 winner of the Hollywood Derby and Shoemaker Mile. “I think today was her day,” said Barry Irwin. “She

believe his eyes that I recognized her after so many years. One never forgets a good horse and she was

had a nice little run, had that great prep. She loves

that and more." Alexandra Rose went on to finish 2nd in the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas and 3rd in the G1 Majorca S and then travelled to Dubai where she was 2nd in the Darley Cape Verdi S L, and won the G3 Monrovia H at Santa Anita in the USA. Jockey Rafael Bejarano said "she’s a very good horse.” Barry Irwin retired Alexandra Rose to stud, and sent her to Australia where she was covered by his G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Dubai World Cup winner, Animal Kingdom. From this mating, she VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

ALEXANDRA ROSE - AT STUD IN AUSTRALIA 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 67 5

MAIN DEFENDER v

Mr Prospector Forty Niner File Distorted Humor Danzig Danzig's Beauty Sweetest Chant

Pathfork (USA) Northern Dancer Sadler's Wells Fairy Bridge Visions Of Clarity Riverman Imperfect Circle Aviance

Seattle Slew A.P. Indy Weekend Surprise Judpot (USA) Nureyev Miesque Pasadoble

Alessia Nureyev Caesour (USA) Don't Sulk Alexia Darshaan Alexandra Bi (IRE) Miss Habit 6 68 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Raise A Native Gold Digger Tom Rolfe Continue Northern Dancer Pas De Nom Mr Leader Gay Sonnet Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Never Bend River Lady Northfields (USA) Minnie Hauk Bold Reasoning My Charmer Secretariat Lassie Dear Northern Dancer Special Prove Out Santa Quilla Northern Dancer Special Graustark Dinner Partner Shirley Heights Delsy Habitat London Bird

Native Dancer Raise You Nashua Sequence Ribot Pocahontas Double Jay Courtesy Nearctic Natalma Admiral's Voyage Petitioner Hail To Reason Jolie Deja Sailor Gay Rig Nearco Lady Angela Native Dancer Almahmoud Hail To Reason Lalun Forli Thong Nasrullah Lalun Prince John Nile Lily Northern Dancer Little Hut Sir Ivor Best In Show Boldnesian Reason To Earn Poker Fair Charmer Bold Ruler Somethingroyal Buckpasser Gay Missile Nearctic Natalma Forli Thong Graustark Equal Venture Sanctus II Neriad Nearctic Natalma Forli Thong Ribot Flower Bowl Tom Fool Bluehaze Mill Reef Hardiemma Abdos Kelty Sir Gaylord Little Hut Mystic II Overdrawn

VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

won his last 4 starts culminating in the G3 Victory Moon Stakes at Turffontein on 4th November 2023. Carl de Vos remembers "Atticus Finch was a beautiful yearling, but was immature, and he went through the sales-ring at the 2021 National Yearling Sale, without reaching his reserve. Afterwards we had a rush of people out back, but Alec Laird had got to me first, so he got first option. After viewing the yearling again he confirmed the sale, although he still needed to find a buyer, he liked the horse

give some scope to the mare and 'Master' seems to like some extra Northern Dancer - we had sent

Belmont Park. They were smoking. We got Rosario on her again. It just had all the earmarks of her day.” Alexandra Bi's next foal was a filly named ALBIZIA (by Fort Wood) who won 4 races for Varsfontein, and retired to stud in 2009. Her first foal was a compact colt (very like his dam) named FOREST INDIGO (by Judpot) - winner of the G1 Golden Horseshoe, 2nd G1 Premier's Champion S, G2 Gauteng Guineas, and 3rd in the Gatecrasher S.

her to him two years before, resulting in Tenacity who was really nice, so this was the repeat mating". Alexia is also the dam of stakes winner ALL AT ONCE (by Captain Al) and the stakes placed Expedite (by Judpot). Her daughter Andermatt (by Western Winter) has produced THEFUTUREISBRIGHT (by Futura) - winner of the Durbanville Cup L, 2nd Pocket Power Stakes G3, 3rd Chairman's Cup G3, Settlers Trophy L, etc. The narrative unfolds with Alan Cooper, the Racing Manager for the Niarchos family (Jagessar Limited), making a significant acquisition at the 2014 National Yearling Sales, where he purchased ALESSIA (by

Alexandra Bi produced ALEXIA (by Caesour) in 2007. She was unremarkable on the racetrack, but is the dam of 5 winners including stakes winner

Judpot - Alexia). Alan Cooper tells the story: "I remember being at the National Sale in April 2014, looking at the Judpot

ATTICUS FINCH (by Master Of My Fate), who has

yearlings. Amongst the attractions of Alessia was

ALBIZIA

ALESSIA AS AYEARLING

FOREST INDIGO - G1 GOLDEN HORSESHOE

VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 69 7

and had to have him." Atticus Finch was sold for R150,000. Susan stated "The mating was done to

ATTICUS FINCH AS A YEARLING that she was not only by the Niarchos bred Judpot, her dam Alexia was by the Niarchos raced Caesour, a colt that I always liked at Francois Boutin’s yard. Alessia was good looking, as reflected in her sales

which produced Main Defender, came about in a way because Pathfork was a Niarchos homebred and because of the inbreeding to the great mare Special".

price of R1 million. The mating with Pathfork,

Despite a limited racing career with trainer Mike de Kock, having just 8 starts, Alessia managed to clinch victory in 2 races and was placed twice. Following her retirement, she returned to the place of her birth at Varsfontein, where she foaled down MAIN DEFENDER, a colt by Pathfork. The yearling colt was subsequently sold at the 2022 Cape Yearling Sale to trainer Tienie Prinsloo for R140,000, for owners Messrs JJ Habib, G, K & MM Nassif. Main Defender made a remarkable debut by winning his maiden over 1100 meters on yielding turf at Scottsville. However, a change in trainer, due to owner John Habib's health complications, led to Main Defender's transfer to Tony Peter at

ALAN COOPER 8 70 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Turffontein. John Habib wanted the horse to be VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

MAIN DEFENDER AS A YEARLING trained in his hometown of Johannesburg. Under the care of Tony Peter, Main Defender continued to impress, securing 2 consecutive victories over 1400m and 1300m, culminating in

Main Defender, who had been backed to 9-10, dug deep to hold off the Niewenhuizen star Sandringham Summit by a nose in a time of 84,56 seconds. It was a memorable day for Varsfontein, as their graduates

the Bloodstock SA Cup at Greyville. He was then entered for the G1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville over 1600m, where he

filled the first 3 places with Gimmeanotherchance

ran 2nd to Sandringham Summit - the 2023 Equus Champion 2yo Colt. This was Main Defender's sole defeat in his six starts to date. On the 7th October 2023, Main Defender ran in the G2 Jo’burg Spring Challenge over 1450m, where he annihilated his opposition by a winning margin of 6,5 lengths. Main Defender subsequently competed in The G3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m on 28th October 2023, where he faced his nemesis Sandringham Summit. This was considered by many to be a match race between the two - In a memorable battle over the final 250m, VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

TIENIE PRINSLOO 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 71 9

MAIN DEFENDER - BETWAY JOBURG SPRING CHALLENGE G2 back in third. Tony Peter praised the colt's straightforward nature and ease of training. He describes him as an 'athletic horse with a remarkable, elastic action'. The

are contemplating future campaigns in Cape Town and Durban, confident in the gelding's potential to achieve even greater success. Alexandra Bi produced the filly ALESSANDRIA

team has ambitious plans for Main Defender, and

(by Fort Wood) in 2008 - she was retained by Varsfontein and trained by Geoff Woodruff. She was 2nd in the Oaks Trial over 2000m and unfortunately died in training. In 2009 Alexandra Bi gave birth to a magnificent colt named ALEXANDRA PALACE (by Jet Master) who was sold at the inaugural Cape Premier Yearling Sale in 2011 to Patrick Shaw for R2,5 million. Trained by Mike de Kock, he won the Sea Cottage Stakes in SA before winning in Dubai and Singapore.

TONY PETER 1072 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Alexandra Bi produced the colt MASTERLY (by Jet Master) In 2010 who was sold on the 2012 National Yearling Sale for R1,050,000 to Michael De Broglio. He won 7 races ncluding the G3 Algoa VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

MAIN DEFENDER - GRAHAM BECK G3 Cup, and was placed 10 times. In 2012 Alexandra Bi produced the filly ALEXA (by Caesour) who was retained by Varsfontein and sent into training with Geoff Woodruff. She won 3 races

At the age of 19, Alexandra Bi gave birth to her final foal in 2013, a magnificent filly called BI POT (by Judpot) who raced in Varsfontein's colours she was 2nd in the G2 Ipi Tombe Challenge, G2

including the Syringa H and was placed 5 times. She is the dam of 2 runners including Hey Siri (2019 by Ideal World), who has won twice to date.

Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, and 3rd in the G1 SA Fillies Classic and G3 Yellowwood Handicap. She retired to stud in 2018 and has produced 3 unraced foals to date. This family has achieved the remarkable feat of producing graded stakes winners on consecutive weekends and has establishing itself as a significant influence on the South African breeding industry. Thoroughbred breeding is a complex, multi-

generational endeavor that involves meticulously assembling the various elements of a horse's pedigree. The concept is exemplified perfectly in this context. BI POT AT STUD VARSFONTEIN DYNASTIES - by Jeremy Nelson

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84 492

RACEGOERS SHOUT ZAHRA HOME!

The Melbourne Cup jockey class of ‘23 | Credit: VRC

8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 75

A new name has been etched onto the 163-year honour roll of Australia’s greatest race, the Lexus Melbourne Cup, with Mark Zahra racing to victory aboard the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday to the cheers of a bumper 84 492 racegoers, a 14.5% increase on 2022 attendance. Without A Fight became the 12th winner of Australia’s most prestigious double, joining the likes of Poseidon, Gurner’s Lane, Let’s Elope, Doriemus and Might And Power as a winner of both the Caulfield Cup and Lexus Melbourne Cup. He was the first to complete the brace since Ethereal in 2001. Sent out an A$9 chance by Victorian TAB punters, Without A Fight sprinted clear over the concluding stages to take the prize by two and a quarter lengths over Chris Waller-trained pair Soulcombe and Sheraz. Zahra became the first jockey since Harry White in 1978 (Arwon) and 1979 (Hyperno) to win the Cup in consecutive years on different horses. As for the Freedmans, the father and son training partnership added a sixth victory for the family, joining the five wins secured by Anthony’s brother Lee with Tawrrific (1989), Subzero (1992), Doriemus (1995) and Makybe Diva (2004, 2005).

It was the highlight on a spectacular day of racing that saw Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young capture training honours with a double to Forgot You in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) and Pascero in the Paramount+ Trophy (1400m), while Damien Oliver secured his 25th and final win on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day aboard the Travis Doudle-prepared Wiggum in The Schweppervescence Plate (1000m). Tony and Calvin McEvoy recorded a quinella in the Group 3 Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) with Dublin Down and Blue Stratum, before New Zealand Group 1 winner Skew Wiff produced a strong victory in the Group 3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m). At the conclusion of Tuesday’s racing, the Ron Hutchinson Award - presented to the leading jockey over the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival - is led by James McDonald on 12 points, just ahead of Oliver and Jamie Kah on 11. In the race for the trainer’s equivalent, the J B Cummings Award, Waller’s placings in the Lexus Melbourne Cup along with his victory in the Penfolds Victoria Derby on Saturday have elevated him to the top of the standings on 14 ahead of James Cummings on 10 and Busuttin and Young on nine.

A Fight charges 76Without | 8 NOVEMBER 2023 home under Mark Zahra | Credit: VRC

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ALI COHEN

MOVES SOUTH Alistair Cohen, South Africa’s world-class race caller, has been appointed Senior Manager, Broadcasting and Commentating, for Cape Racing effective 1 November, which incidentally was his 33rd birthday. The appointment follows Cohen’s periodic guest calling of Cape races over the last few months and recent negotiations with Cape Racing’s senior management. Justin Vermaak, Racing & Bloodstock Executive, said: “We are delighted to have secured Alistair’s services on a permanent basis. He is very talented, both as a commentator and a presenter, popular with racing fans and within the racing community. He fits perfectly with our long-term plan to make racing in the Western Cape a truly worldclass experience.” Cohen’s duties will be going beyond race calling and will extend to the coordination of Cape Racing’s broadcasting products, including pre-race interviews and race day presentation. He commented: “My brief is to direct and shape Cape Racing’s overall broadcasting content and product into world-class quality. I am excited to be working closely with Justin and team, all people who are driven, committed and hold themselves to the highest standards. Hollywoodbets and Greg’s vision surpasses anything done before in South African racing. They have skipped a millennium to the year 3000! I cannot get over the development

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Alistair Cohen – set for career move | Credit: Supplied

8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 79

taking place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth – this racecourse will shortly be in the top 5 courses in the world, in my opinion. I cannot wait to start!” Cohen’s career followed a swift upward trajectory after he joined Phumelela as a trainee race caller in 2010. He progressed to senior commentator and developed a dedicated following. In 2021, he landed himself the sought-after position of senior caller in Dubai, where he spent just short of two seasons calling the 2021 Dubai World Cup and the other high-profile Dubai Carnival features before returning to South Africa as a freelancer. Calling the Cape’s flagship races was a significant factor in his considering his professional move. “I have called the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas and the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, but so far not the L’Ormarins Kings Plate, the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, or the SplashOut Cape Derby. I can’t wait!” he enthused.

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As a youngster, Cohen was drawn to race calling by David Raphael’s riveting delivery in the QEII Cup in 1997. He regards the Australian, Matt Hill, as the highest standard for callers today and has taken guidance from the UK’s leaders Simon Holt, Mike Cattermole, and the mellifluous Richard Hoiles, whom he regards as “a sounding board.” Cohen said that he owed a debt of gratitude to Mary Slack for supporting his career. “If it weren’t for Mary who stepped in to give our racing industry a lifeline, Hollywoodbets and Greg wouldn’t have been in a position to rescue Cape Racing, and the landscape would have been different.” Cohen will be commuting between Johannesburg and Cape Town for a few weeks and said: “I enjoyed living in Gauteng and forged some good friendships. I look forward to seeing my 4Racing colleagues in the Cape, especially for the festival meetings at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.”

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BB ON HIS WAY TO CT! v

Brandon Bailey – makes the move down South | Credit: Supplied

82 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Cape Racing has announced via a media release published on Tuesday 7 November that Brandon Bailey will join its Broadcast and Commentating team commencing 1 December 2023. Justin Vermaak, Cape Racing’s Racing & Bloodstock Executive, said: “We are extremely excited to have Brandon join our team. The execution of our vision at Cape Racing requires large quantities of energy and passion. Brandon possesses both in abundance. Brandon is a valuable and welcome addition to our already well-established team. “

Added Brandon, “I am so grateful for this opportunity of a lifetime. I could not believe my eyes when I recently toured Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. What is taking place at this property is nothing short of mind-blowing. When all is said and done, this racecourse will be one of the top racecourses in the world, and I need to pinch myself that I am now part of this journey.” Ed – Thirty year old Brandon and his long-time girlfriend Katelyn Whittington are expecting a baby – we wish them well and bid them a hearty welcome to Cape Town!

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SNAITH IS KING OF SWING

The fourteen year long visitor stranglehold on the ‘Gqeberha July’ continued at Fairview on Sunday when the Justin Snaith yard celebrated their fifth winner in the past ten renewals of the R350 000 Jonsson Workwear Listed Algoa Cup. Snaith enjoyed a good feature weekend with Mucho Dinero a runaway winner of the Listed Woolavington at Hollywoodbets Durbanville 24 hours earlier. With two runners in the Eastern Cape 2000m contest, he would have fancied his chances of following up on Hoedspruit’s 2021 victory and JP van der Merwe produced the goods on the 86 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

8-1 Future Swing, who was going beyond a mile for the first time in his career. Riding to instructions to switch his mount off early, JP had Future Swing settled early as Cherry Ano led Gallic Tribe into the run for home as The Futurist then took over and the top trio set sail.

Future Swing (JP van der Merwe) is chased by Han Solo (Raymond Danielson) and Gallic Tribe (Jason Gates) in a thrilling finish | Credit: Pauline Herman Photography

Jason Gates made an early move on Gallic Tribe and he poached a three length lead on his field as they went past the 400m. All the while, JP van der Merwe was stalking in midfield and after switching the 4yo after some traffic issues, they swept into the lead chased by the gallant defending champion Han Solo. At the line Future Swing (8-1) had 1,25 lengths to spare over the late charging Han Solo (17-2), with Gallic Tribe (20-1) showing he likely stays the 2000m, when a half length back in third. Glen Kotzen capped a great weekend, with Han Solo stablemate Lord William (25-1)

all of 2,25 lengths back in fourth. Bred by Drakenstein, Future Swing is a son of former SA Horse Of The Year Futura (Dynasty) out of the twice winning Carousel Swing, a daughter of champion Trippi. Interestingly, the mare had a winner, also bred by Drakenstein, earlier on the card, when Oratorio’s daughter Opera Swing registered her sixth win in the third race. Raced in partnership by Drakenstein, Kalinga and Pamela Isdell, the winner is a R600 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and a winner of 5 races with 6 places from 14 starts for stakes of R552 725. 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 87

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STALLIONS 2023

CANFORD CLIFFS

PAT H F O R K

(LIVE FOAL)

R20,000

R5,000

MALMOOS

P OTA L A PA L A C E

(LIVE FOAL)

N E W P R E D ATO R

RAFEEF

(LIVE FOAL)

(R20,000 UP FRONT + R50,000 LIVE FOAL)

R25,000

R12,500

R5,000

R70,000

REAL GONE KID FEE ON APPLICATION

TRADITION OF CHAMPIONS

Craig Carey | E: craig@ridgemont.co.za | M: +27 (0) 82 654 5169 | www.ridgemont.co.za

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Zoomie (Louis Mxothwa) gets the better of Fairy Knight (Richard Fourie) in a rousing finish | Credit: Pauline Herman

ZOOMIE IS THE CLASS Philippi trainer Brett Crawford only took two horses up the Garden Route for the 2023 Algoa Cup Festival which commenced at Fairview on Friday, and made a dream start to the two day event, courtesy of Zoomie’s gutsy victory in the R250 000 Listed Racehorse Owners Association Stakes.

who kept him honest all the way to the line.

Crawford’s Querari gelding looked the right one in the eight strong line-up after back-to-back seconds to two decent Justin Snaith-trained three-year-olds, and made his third run post gelding a winning one under Louis Mxothwa.

Owned by the Mauritius-based Gujadhur family, Zoomie was bred by Sean Jerrier and is a son of Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the six-time winning Elusive Fort mare, Seek The Summit.

Slung in under the race conditions, Zoomie (910) was backed to win but was made to work hard by local colt Fairy Knight (7-2),

A R110 000 Cape Yearling Sale graduate, Zoomie took his stakes earnings to R453 875 with his second win and 6 places from 8 starts.

With the winner clocking 99,25 secs for the mile, a quarter length separated the top two, with the other Cape visitor Hat’s Pride (7-1) running a cracker, a further 1,50 lengths back in third.

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QUERARI’S 38TH Fresh off supplying the previous weekend’s impressive Gr3 Cape Classic winner Questioning, Maine Chance Farms’ bang inform stallion Querari came up with another three-year-old stakes winner when his son Zoomie claimed the Listed Racehorse Owners Association Stakes. Runner up, to paternal half-brother Underworld, in last season’s Listed Somerset 1200, the Brett Crawford-trained Zoomie was dispatched as tote favourite for the Racehorse Owners Association Stakes.

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He is the 38th stakes winner for his sire Querari, whose progeny also include champion Rio Querari and fellow G1 winners Bavarian Beauty and Querari Falcon. Twice Leading Sire of 2YOs in South Africa, Querari has made an excellent start to the 2023-2024 season with the son of Oasis Dream currently second on the General Sires List. The Maine Chance Farms’ resident has six lots on offer at the 2023 November Two Year Old Sale.

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KOTZEN TEAM’S

WINNING WEEKEND The Woodhill Racing Team enjoy their successful raiding missions to the Eastern Cape. And their eight hour road trip from their beautiful Paarl base to Gqeberha up the scenic Garden Route paid dividends again this past weekend With three winners, including Red William on Friday, and a double at Fairview on Sunday courtesy of Blackberry Malt and the classy mare Flower Of Saigon, who won the non black-type R150 000 Betway Wedgewood Handicap, it was a trip worth making.

by a length in a time of 149,95 secs. Dame Of Flames (6-1) stayed on for third, a further 1,50 lengths back. The long-time pacemaker Wildest Dreams was under pressure at the 350m marker and fell away to run out of the money and some seven lengths back.

Their 7yo Jonsson Workwear Algoa Cup defending champion Han Solo was also not disgraced, flying up late in the headliner for second behind Snaith’s Future Swing, while stablemate Lord William rounded off the quartet.

Bred by owners’ Martin Wickens and Gisela Burg’s Wickensburg Stud, the winner is a daughter of Travers Stakes winner Flower Alley, sire of, among others, South Africa’s reigning Horse Of The Year Princess Calla.

And there’s no doubt that the trojan 6yo Flower Ally Flower Of Saigon has a penchant for the Fairview track.

Flower Of Saigon is out of the Captain Al fourtime winner Miss Saigon, who was also raced by the same owners.

Despite a slipped saddle in mid race, she was confidently ridden from near-last by Winning Form jockey Raymond Danielson to score a popular victory in the 2400m support feature on the Sunday programme.

Flower Of Saigon has now won 5 races with 20 places from 34 starts and stakes of R606 375.

Carrying top weight of 62kgs, Flower Of Saigon (18-10) powered home to beat fellow Cape raider Double Check (4-1)

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There was a terrific vibe on course and the carryover Pick 6 pool carried the stamp of approval, well exceeding the projected R3 million!

Flower Of Saigon finishes strongly under Raymond Danielson to beat Double Check (Van Niekerk) in the support feature | Credit: Pauline Herman

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ASCOT STALLION ROCKS Ascot Stud’s Gr1 SA Classic winning sire Heavenly Blue is starting to fire on all cylinders, with the son of four times Australian champion sire Snitzel responsible for the very impressive first crop recent winner Zinovi and the progressive Three Rocks, who made it five wins on the trot at Fairview on Sunday. Zinovi, his sire’s very first winner when scoring at Turffontein back in April, made a big impression when he won a progress plate by nearly five lengths recently and he looks a potential feature race contender in the making. Heavenly Blue, whose daughter Amazing Colours also recently won, is also the sire of the very smart filly Three Rocks, a winner at Fairview on Sunday, and now boasting a first cheque in five of her first six starts. Bred by Ascot Stud, the 3yo Three Rocks is out the UK-raced Rock Of Gibraltar mare, Rockie Bright. She is raced by the ASSM Racing Syndicate for trainer Alan Greeff and cost just R100 000 at the National 2yo Sale. Ascot will be bringing nine two-year-olds to the upcoming BSA November Two Year Old Sale, with their draft including five lots by Heavenly Blue. 98 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Three Rocks (Richard Fourie) makes it five on the trot | Credit: Pauline Herman

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Ashley Parker has the following to say about a few potential standouts in Ascot’s draft:

Lot 79: Smart Horse c Heavenly Blue – Cupid’s Kiss

Lot 19: Clever Candy f Heavenly Blue – Scented Ash

He is aptly named Smart Horse. A powerful, big strong colt out of a Jet Master mare whose second dam was a Gr3 winner from the family of Golden Thatch

She is a strong, good quartered filly out of a Guineas winner from Legislates immediate family

Lot 114: Genteel f Quasillo – Girl On The Run

Lot 26: Key News c Heavenly Blue – Silva Key

She is a Quasillo filly out of a Gr3 winning dam who oozes class and stands over ground

A racy scopy colt out of a six time winner from the famous Soho Secret family

This draft can be viewed in Block B at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

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Ajuste Fiscal – just one of the stars who return to action | Credit: ERA

DUBAI RACING CARNIVAL STARTS ON FRIDAY Grade 1 winner Ajuste Fiscal is among a plethora of returning stars in action at the opening meeting of the new Dubai Racing Carnival on Friday. A winner over 2000m at Meydan Racecourse last December, Ajuste Fiscal was last seen finishing fifth in the Gr1 Maktoum Challenge Round 3 and resumes off top weight, with a full field of 15 rivals to beat. They include 2020 G3 UAE Oaks winner Down On Da Bayou as well as dual course winner Kafoo, stablemate of Ajuste Fiscal.

working very well and even though we believe that his ideal might be further than a mile, it’s a good starting point.” Kafoo will be partnered by stable jockey Jose Da Silva, with Dubai Kahayla Classic-winning rider Oscar Chavez on Ajuste Fiscal.

“Ajuste Fiscal goes for his fourth UAE season,” “Kafoo is a very interesting horse who arrived a said Olascoaga. “He might need further to see few months ago to our stable,” said trainer Julio him at his best, but it is not a concern as he’s Olascoaga, who has taken over the handling well prepared. He can do some damage if of Kafoo from Bhupat Seemar. “He’s been things go his way.” 102 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Seemar runs three, two of whom, Western Symphony and Imperial Empire, are now owned by Touch Gold Racing, having been sold by Al Rashid Stables during the summer. “We considered splitting them up, but we think this is the right starting point for each of them,” said Mike Kaye, Touch Gold Racing Founder. “Tadhg [O’Shea, Stable Jockey] prefers Western Symphony, who had a good year last year, progressing through the ratings, and we’re hopeful he’ll have a good year for us. “Imperial Empire has also been working well but is drawn 15 of 16. We’re not entirely sure where we are with him, having had quite a disappointing season last year. Hopefully we can drop him in here and he can run on and show us something, with a view to trying him over further in the future.” The 1200m Emirates Airline Handicap, race seven, sees a high-profile recruit to the

Olascoaga stable in dual course Group 3 winner Gladiator King. The seven-year-old, who now carries the colours of Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, is on something of a redemption mission, having run just three times since 2021. “There’s not much to say about his quality, he’s spoken for himself at Meydan before,” said the trainer. “He’s been training well and by now we have no excuses but to see him perform. Stable jockey Jose da Silva was happy with his final work and picked him over stablemate Fast-Uno.

“Fast-Uno didn’t show his full potential last season. He’s now gelded and has improved.” Among the opposition to the Olascoaga pair is Kaye’s Leading Spirit, a winner on turf at Meydan but not on dirt.

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“Leading Spirit comes into it off a 3lb rise for coming fourth in the Jebel Ali Sprint,” he says. “It’s a course and distance that we’re hoping this season he can show us something over, but this is very much a starting point as it’s a while since he ran here and his rating could be a bit high.” Meydan also stages its first two-year-old race of the season on Friday, when eight clash in the Emirates Holidays Maiden, race two, over 1200metres. Gaassid, a $160,000 son of UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn, is one of two in the race for Jebel Ali Stable trainer Michael Costa, who made a flying start to the season with five winners at his home track last weekend. Costa also runs the Union Rags colt, Alsayef, the mount of James Orman, with new Stable Jockey Ben Coen on Gaassid. The Jebel Ali pair face six rivals, including Killer Collect, El Nasseeb and Tactical Bound, three Goffs Dubai Sale graduates. Nine-time Dubai World Cup-winning trainer Saeed Bin Suroor begins early in Dubai this season and runs two on the card, starting with Wild Hurricane in the Emirates SkyCargo Handicap, race three.

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A seven-race maiden, he has his first start on dirt here under Adrie de Vries. His opposition includes Perfect Balance, already a winner this season when scoring at Sharjah. One of the most competitive races of the evening is the closing 1400m Emirates.com Handicap. Dual Irish winner Fight Zone make his local debut for Olascoaga, who is optimistic about his chances. “Fight Zone reappears after a three-year absence, and it’s his first time over Meydan’s dirt surface,” said the trainer. “He has worked very well towards this race, but race day is a different thing. Connections have waited a long time to see him running here, and we are as keen as they are to get him started.” Fight Zone’s rivals include six course winners, with 1400metre specialist Mayaadeen one to keep an eye on for Champion Trainer Doug Watson, while Fawzi Nass’s Shake Hand also has a course and distance success on his CV. Racing begins at 15h30 when the eight-race card gets underway with a Purebred Arabian 1400m handicap.

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DECLARATIONOFPEACE (USA) v

War Front - Serena’s Cat (Storm Cat)

Stands at MacRath Stud in Nottingham Road • The son of brilliant American sire War Front has enjoyed two full books of mares in his first two years at stud, His mare book includes Gr1 producing mares such as Mystery Dame (Lady In Black and Nexus) and Bloomhill mare, Wysiwyg – the dam of Bohica and Bartholdi. • A $2,6-million weanling who is a half-brother to Gr1 winner Honor Code and Gr2 winner Noble Tune, Declarationofpeace has also enjoyed significant support from breeders outside of the KZN province, with Cape mares travelling for cover. • Declarationofpeace is throwing quality and size into his foals and his first yearlings will be on offer in the sales rings in 2024. Service Fee: R 20 000 Live foal Enquiries and Booking: Mike McHardy (083 447 5315) advertorial

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LAIRD GALLOPER GETS A 111 BEFORE SUMMER Atticus Finch has had his merit rating raised from 107 to 111 following his success in the Grade 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein standside course on Saturday 4 November. The Handicappers were of the view that last years’ winner LITIGATION who placed 4th here made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 110. The only other horse to receive an increase in ratings is ELECTRIC GOLD, who goes up from 102 to 105. A noteworthy performer here is SON OF RAJ, who runs above his rating at these weight terms but cannot be adjusted due to him running unplaced in 5th spot. Two horses were given rating’s drops, WHAFEEF was dropped from 107 to 105 and STAR COIN was reassessed after failing to confirm his 6th place finish in the Grade 1 SA Classic, he was adjusted downwards from 108 to 100.

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National Colour Stakes (Listed) (Handicap) formerly Gardenia Stakes (Listed) GOLDEN SICKLE has had her rating raised from 102 to 110 following her impressive win in the Listed National Colour Stakes for fillies and mares over the straight 1000m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here, all of ALULA’S STAR, FLOWERBOMB and MOONSHININGTHROUGH were considered suitable line horses having finished in a line in this handicap race. ICE STAR, who was 9 pounds under sufferance and ON CUE, who was 13 pounds under sufferance (benchmarked 94 = 52kg handicap) only received marginal adjustments from 95 to 99 and 81 to 84 respectively. Two horses received rating’s drops. ROSE OF TRIPPI dropped marginally from 88 to 87 and FULL VELOCITY was dropped from 104 to 101. Woolavington Stakes (Listed) The hugely progressive MUCHO DINERO sees his rating increased from 93 to 99 after easily accounting for last years’ winner BARATHEON

in the Woolavington Stakes Listed over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that runner-up BARATHEON made for the most suitable line horse here, he remains unchanged on a rating of 100. In rating the race this way MUCHO DINERO runs to a slightly higher figure but had to be capped at a rating of 99 due to the specific conditions of the race which state that the winner may only receive a maximum adjustment of 6 pounds. Five horses were given a rating’s drop. LOVE IS A ROSE was dropped by 1 pound from 99 to 98, OTTO LUYKEN was dropped from 103 to 101, RUNAWAY SONG was dropped from 116 to 114, WITH PLEASURE is down from 105 to 102, while SALVATOR MUNDI drops from 107 to 104.

No less than 5 horses received rating’s drops in this handicap. LORD WILLIAM and QUASIMODO were both dropped a pound each from 107 to 106 and 94 to 93 respectively. CAT DADDY and FIND ME UNAFRAID were both cut 3 pounds each from 101 to 98 and 95 to 92 respectively, while HOEDSPRUIT was dropped from 112 to 110. Racehorse Owners Association Stakes (Listed) ZOOMIE, who was weighted to win the Racehorse Owners Association Stakes (Listed), remains unchanged on a rating of 101 for his success on Friday 3 November over 1600m at Fairview racecourse.

The Handicappers opted to used FAIRY KNIGHT as the line horse here, he remains on a rating of 93. In rating the race this way, the winner actually runs to a mark of 94, hence his Jonsson Workwear Algoa Cup (Listed) unchanged rating. HAT’S PRIDE, who finished (Handicap) 1.5 lengths or 3 pounds behind FAIRY KNIGHT at level weights was accordingly adjusted to be FUTURE SWING had his rating adjusted by 4 rated 3 pounds inferior to the line horse, from pounds from 94 to 98 after winning the Jonsson 84 to 90. Workwear Algoa Cup (Listed) handicap over 2000m at Fairview on Sunday. Four horses received a rating’s drop for this event. THE WINTER LAKE from 88 to 86, LORD Last years’ winner HAN SOLO was considered MILORI from 83 to 81, VISION OF WONDER to be the most suitable line horse and he from 93 to 91 and SYMBOL OF LOVE was remains on a rating of 104. dropped from 75 to 71.

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CHAMPIONS DON’T COME CHEAP! The magnificent Frankel with Groom Rob Bowley | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

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Frankel, who is set to regain the British and Irish sires’ title, will join Dubawi at a world-high £350 000 stud fee for 2024. For South African interest, that’s the equivalent of R8 million! Juddmonte’s 15-year-old son of Galileo, who stood this year for £275,000, has sired 11 individual top-flight winners in 2023, more than any other northern hemisphere stallion. His Group/Grade 1 tally overall is 33. This year’s haul includes new stud mate and 2,000 Guineas hero Chaldean, Oaks heroine Soul Sister, Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Juddmonte International winner Mostahdaf, Fillies’ Mile winner Ylang Ylang and Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Inspiral, a six-time top-level winner for Frankel alongside 2022 Arc heroine Alpinista. In the sales ring this year, Frankel was responsible for the two highest-priced yearlings at Tattersalls Book 1, a colt for 2,000,000gns and filly for 1,600,000gns, and also the Goffs Orby Sale top lot, a €1.85 million filly. In 2021 he broke an 11-year winning sequence for his own sire to be crowned champion sire in Britain and Ireland, and after coming off second best to Darley’s Dubawi last year, he cruised to a second title with more than £7m in prizemoney and well clear of the chasing pack. Frankel stood his first season at stud in 2013 for £125,000 after a perfect 14 from 14 career, including ten Group 1s. His official rating of 140 places him behind only Juddmonte’s Dancing Brave (141) in the history of the international classifications, which began in 1977, and equal with last year’s world’s best horse Flightline. A Juddmonte press release on Monday said Frankel’s new fee “reflects his standing among the all-time great stallions”. Kingman is the second six-figure stallion at the Abdullah family’s Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket, remaining at £125,000 for 2024. 112 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

The brilliant son of Invincible Spirit has sired more three-year-old stakes winners in 2023 than Frankel, Into Mischief, Galileo and Dubawi. This year Kingman has sired 15 individual Group winners, including Prix du Moulin scorer Sauterne, Grand Prix de Paris winner Feed The Flame and the Australian-bred two-year-old Group 1 winner King Colorado. The 12-year-old has also remained popular in the sales ring with a yearling average of more than £340,000. Chaldean, winner of the Dewhurst, Champagne and Acomb Stakes at two, as well as the Guineas this year, has been introduced to breeders at £25,000. Sold to Juddmonte from Whitsbury Manor Stud for 550,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2020, he is out of the high-class producer Suelita, also the dam of Mill Reef Stakes winner Alkumait and the Group 1-placed sprinter Get Ahead. Oasis Dream, sire of more than 220 stakes horses including the winners of 30 top-level races, will stand for £15,000, down from £20,000.

“Kingman closes 2023 as the sire of more threeyear-old stakes winners than Frankel, Into Mischief, Galileo and Dubawi.”

A proven top-class sire, he is an equally outstanding broodmare sire, with 54 of his daughters producing Group winners, including 13 at Group/Grade 1 level. They include last Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Big Evs and last month’s Prix de la Foret winner Kelina. The roster is completed by Bated Breath, a son of Juddmonte’s late stalwart Dansili. Standing for £10,000, down from £15,000, he is the best value sire in Britain by black-type performers since the start of 2019, while his 2023 yearling sales results included four lots sold for six figures and an average of almost £50,000 for 58 sold. His best bred crop of two-year-olds are set to hit the track next year. Simon Mockridge, general manager of Juddmonte UK, said: “This year has been another outstanding season for the Juddmonte stallions. A season which sees Frankel poised

to win his second champion sire title in the last three years, and a year where the Juddmonte roster was the leading stallion farm at Royal Ascot. “Kingman closes 2023 as the sire of more three-year-old stakes winners than Frankel, Into Mischief, Galileo and Dubawi. Significantly, Frankel and Kingman, who currently sit first and third in the European siress’ list, are responsible for 64 individual stakes winners between them in 2023 alone. Of which, 39 are Group winners, with 14 of them winning at the highest level, further consolidating their positions as two of the world’s elite stallions.” He added: “The roster has been further strengthened by the exciting addition of Frankel’s most precocious son, Chaldean. His physique, conformation and Classic credentials should give him every opportunity to succeed. “We look forward to welcoming breeders to the farm to view the stallions by appointment.”

A man and his horse! Rob and Frankel are inseparable | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

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Paddington – in the running for top award | Credit: Supplied

CARTIER STARS TO BE ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY Nominations were announced earlier this week for the 33rd Cartier Racing Awards, which will be presented at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the evening of Thursday, 9 November.

Nominations were announced earlier this week for the 33rd Cartier Racing Awards, which will be presented at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the evening of Thursday, 9 November. Four contenders for the Cartier Horse Of The Year include unbeaten Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact and Auguste Rodin, who completed a Classic double in the Betfred Derby and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in addition to taking the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. 116 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

Mostahdaf, successful in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Juddmonte International, and Paddington, whose haul of four Gr1 wins in 2023 included the Coral-Eclipse and Qatar Sussex Stakes, are also in contention for the evening’s main equine award. In addition to the Cartier Horse Of The Year award, there are seven other equine categories - the Cartier Older Horse, the Cartier Sprinter, the Cartier Stayer, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly, the Cartier

Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly. The non-equine award presented during the ceremony is the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit, which goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the 16-strong Cartier jury, has done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

Cartier Stayer Continuous Courage Mon Ami Quickthorn Trueshan Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt

The nominations for the 2023 Cartier Racing Awards are:

City Of Troy Henry Longfellow Rosallion Vandeek

Cartier Horse of the Year

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly

Ace Impact Auguste Rodin Mostahdaf Paddington

Fallen Angel Opera Singer Porta Fortuna Ylang Ylang

Cartier Older Horse Hukum Inspiral Mostahdaf Westover Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Ace Impact Auguste Rodin Big Rock Paddington Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Blue Rose Cen Mawj Tahiyra Warm Heart Cartier Sprinter Art Power Highfield Princess Live In The Dream Shaquille

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Auguste Rodin charges to victory under Ryan Moore | Credit: Ballydoyle Racing

DECISION TIME FOR ‘UNIQUE’ GALLOPER’S CONNECTIONS Epsom hero Auguste Rodin was described by his trainer Aidan O’Brien as ‘unique’ after his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita over the weekend. O’Brien believes the colt has the ability to cope with a Breeders’ Cup Classic on the dirt if he races on as a four-year-old in 2024. A decision on whether he stays in training is due next week. This Group 1 victory in California was his fourth of the season after glory in the Irish Derby and the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. The son of Japanese super-sire Deep Impact could well be Coolmore’s new number one if successful in the Classic next season with undoubtably world-wide appeal. On a sunny Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita, Auguste Rodin provided O’Brien with a record-

breaking seventh success in the Breeders’ Cup Turf under a Ryan Moore masterclass ride that O’Brien described as “incredible”. Never one to look under pressure in a race, Moore made the difficult look easy aboard Auguste Rodin. Slightly slow away from the stalls, plan A was then gone as he was stuck further back than ideal. Towards the rear of midfield, he travelled smoothly throughout the race and Moore’s decision to stay glued to the inside line paid off spectacularly. The crucial stage of the race was on the home turn when a dream split opened up on the inside for Auguste Rodin as the leader edged 8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 119

right and he looked every inch a high-class colt as he quickened to lead in no time. Auguste Rodin didn’t have to do any more than when winning the Irish Champion Stakes on his previous start, leaving the impression he wasn’t doing much in front late on as he repelled the challenge of leading US hope Up To The Mark to score by three quarters of a length.

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For context, he ran to a Timeform performance rating of 126, up there with the great mare Enable’s 127 in 2018. An official BHA rating of 129 will ensure that he ends the 2023 season as one of the highestrated three-year-olds in Europe on a par with QEII winner Big Rock and behind only Arc hero Ace Impact on 133.

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Wellington limbers up under Alexis Badel in work | Credit: HKJC

WELLINGTON

STRETCHES IN STYLE Hong Kong’s former champion sprinter Wellington appeared in good shape on Tuesday morning ahead of his reappearance in the HK$5.35 million GR2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint on 19 November at Sha Tin. Now housed with trainer Jamie Richards, Wellington tuned up smartly on the Sha Tin dirt under jockey Alexis Badel. The seven-year-old worked nicely throughout the run, steadily making ground to cross the line in third position behind California Spangle and Celestial Colours, respectively, with the former clocking 1m 10.11s for the 1200m practice run. “I thought he trialled well. He obviously drew out wide and got caught wide but I think it was pretty normal, like one of his trials from last season, so he seems to be in good shape. He’s 122 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

had a little bit of a quiet time since he arrived back down from Conghua,” Richards said. The winner of four Group 1s and 12 races overall for former trainer Richard Gibson, Wellington will aim to defend his crown in the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint on 10 December at Sha Tin’s HK$118 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. “He felt great. He was relaxed, he showed me that he was happy to try hard and he did

everything by himself. He seems pretty fit actually, so it was a good trial,” Badel said. Badel has won three Group 1 races atop Wellington and will ride the gelding in the BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint. On the day, he will also partner Five G Patch in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) and Voyage Bubble in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m). Wellington has earned HK$63.52 million for connections, while his latest effort saw him finish down the track in the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June. The horse has since spent nearly two months at Conghua, which is the first time across his career that he has made the journey to the world-class racing and training facility. “We just wanted to try something different with him (sending him to Conghua) post his trip to Ascot. It’s always a little bit of an unknown when horses come back from travelling, whether they’re the same horse or not. At this stage everything seems to be going well with him and hopefully he can turn up and run a

good race next Sunday,” Richards said. Victorious first-up in the HK$5.35 million Gr2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap, California Spangle will chase a 12th win at his 20th start in the BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile after working under jockey Hugh Bowman for trainer Tony Cruz. “He felt great. He was much more enthusiastic in the trial than when he was in the trial leading up to his first-up run, so I take encouragement from that. “I let him do a bit more than he did that day as well and he pulled up in better shape but he does have the benefit of a race under his belt and a pretty solid one at that, so we’re looking forward to the Group 2 race,” Bowman said. Bowman will partner California Spangle in Sunday week’s contest, while he’ll also renew a partnership with Russian Emperor in the BOCHK Jockey Club Cup for trainer Douglas Whyte. Fellow Cruz trainee Beauty Joy worked in the same trial on Tuesday under Matthew Chadwick, finishing in eighth position behind Packing Treadmill.

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results up to: 2023-11-08

TRAINERS Name

Runs

Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Other Places

Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

Mr S J Snaith

264

10.6

111

42.0

2,041,250

3,376,456

Mr A P Peter

120

21.7

47.5

2,060,938

2,747,688

Mrs C L Bass-Robinson

171

14.6

46.8

1,847,813

2,694,038

Mr A C Greeff

236

12.7

38.1

1,699,375

2,525,263

Mr B J Crawford

194

11.3

38.7

1,556,750

2,441,613

Name

Runs

Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

Mr R D Fourie

372

21.5

183

49.2

4,854,688

6,859,725

Mr M A Yeni

476

14.7

118

248

52.1

4,313,438

6,672,700

Mr G J Lerena

259

18.1

132

51.0

3,586,125

5,100,825

Mr S Khumalo

244

15.6

112

45.9

2,315,313

3,393,950

Mr C Zackey

379

9.0

175

46.2

2,154,688

3,873,231

JOCKEYS Other Places

BREEDERS Name

Runrs Runs

AEPR

B.T. B.T. Total Wnrs/ Wnrs Wins Rnrs% Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R)

Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

224

574

32,645

31.7

240

7,312,375

Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

130

282

36,528

29.2

124

4,748,625

Klawervlei Stud

176

439

23,256

21.0

178

4,093,088

Varsfontein Stud

110

282

29,093

20.9

116

3,200,225

Ridgemont Highlands

101

235

27,681

25.7

2,795,756

Name

Runrs Runs

AEPR

B.T. B.T. Total Wnrs/ Wnrs Wins Rnrs% Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R)

Master Of My Fate

142

376

31,317

27.5

169

4,447,025

Querari (GER)

133

342

29,154

25.6

149

3,877,500

Gimmethegreenlight (AUS)

151

327

24,936

17.9

153

3,765,400

Vercingetorix

127

288

27,831

24.4

110

3,534,488

What A Winter

122

300

25,501

23.0

123

3,111,088

SIRES

See all the detailed standings - Click here 124 | 8 NOVEMBER 2023

8 NOVEMBER 2023 | 125